I am 'nervously excited' when I am writing - Writer Sammeer Arora

A B.Sc. graduate in Microbiology, Sammeer Arora who started his career as a medical representative in a pharmaceutical company never knew that Lady Luck will turn him into an acclaimed writer in both TV and movies. The man in a candid chat with Tellychakkar.com for our Behind the Lens segment, gives a glimpse of his career. Tell us about your journey as writer? Films fascinated me and I used to always wonder how people made them. It was in 1993 when a family friend Mrs Kalpana Bharadwaj came down from the US with the desire to produce and direct a film in India. I grabbed the opportunity and resigned from my job and joined in as assistant production manager. The film was “Vaade Iraade” and it starred a new boy and Mamta Kulkarni in the lead. This was my first experience with the world that I wanted to be in and it was a wonderful learning experience. After Kalpanaji left I was determined to continue my journey and did odd jobs to sustain myself…when there was no work I even worked as an office boy to Uday Shankar Pani, an ad film director, as I did not wish to give up. Eventually I got a chance to work with Shobhana Desai Productions as an executive producer for shows like Alpaviram for Sony TV, Ek Mahal Ho Sapno Ka once again for Sony, Babul Ki Duayein Leti Jaa for Zee, Hum Pardesi Ho Gaye for Sony. After all this, I got my first film as a script writer in 2001 with Mahesh Manjrekar; my film was launched with Bobby Deol, Priyanka Chopra and Sunil Shetty. I was on top of the world with such a break but soon the film got shelved and I was back to zero. I began my journey yet again from zero and it took me two more years to get a couple of films as additional dialogue writer and a couple of films as a ghost writer…then in 2003 I signed Love in Nepal (starring Sonu Nigam) as a full-fledged writer and after that I wrote Ek – the power of one for Sangeeth Sivan, Click for Sangeeth again, Kathputli for Sahara and now I have a film on floor which should release early next year. Also I had started writing for TV parallelly and I wrote for “Darna Mana Hai” for Star Plus, ‘Rishtey” for Zee TV, my first show for a soap series was “Tera Mujhse hai pehle ka Naata Koi” for Sony which was followed by ‘Chhal – Sheh aur Maat” for Colors, I wrote for “Ek Haazaron Mein Meri Behna Hain” for a while and then “Best Friends Forever – BFF “ for Channel V. Currently I am writing “Yeh Hai Aashiqui’ for Bindass and a show for Star Plus that is set to be on air by the end of the year. Was your goal always to become a writer? If yes, why so? I wanted to be a part of the film industry and learn the art of film making and as I ventured into this field I realized that writing is the backbone of films or TV and hence I started working towards learning the art. I am still a student and I keep making an effort to get better with each passing day. What is the one thing that motivates you when you are writing? Similarly, tell us about the one thing that puts you off when writing? The fact that I am creating characters and a story that so many people will see and judge scares me and motivates me at the same time. I am always “nervously excited” when I am writing. Usually nothing puts me off when I am writing….the only exception being me…when I am unable to get a hang of what I am writing and sense that there is something wrong about what I have written and cannot pinpoint what it is I get angry and frustrated with myself and completely put off. It takes some time to put together my thoughts and get back. How do you perceive the TV industry of today? It is a very exciting phase – a phase of indecisiveness as well as growth. Patience level of the audience is being tested and anything that they decide not to watch cannot be salvaged. One has to be on the toes and deliver constantly. It is tiring but yet satisfying when you are able to get a pat on your back for your work. With Chhal – Sheh aur Maat I had many people coming and telling me that they loved the show and the concept. It gave me a lot of happiness. Also today people are more open to experimenting and hence bolder topics and subjects can be explored. The two shows that I am working on ‘Yeh Hai Aashiqui” and the one for Star Plus both are in unexplored zones and are extremely exciting. You have worked in few shows of Cinevistaas. How has your association been with them? Cinevistaas is like family now. I have worked with them on four shows and my association continues. Siddharth Malhotra is like a brother and I share a very emotional bond with him on a professional as well as on a personal level. I can approach him any time on any issue and vice versa. They have a good production set up to back up the vision of their shows. You have tried out the thriller genre in two of your shows – Tera Mujhse Hai.. and Chhal Sheh Aur Maat. So does it mean that you specialize as writer in the thriller genre? Thriller is a genre that excites me most as it gives scope for twists and turns in a story and is extremely challenging to execute but having said that I don’t limit myself to thrillers…I had worked on “Ek hazaaron mein meri behna hai” as well for a while which is a family drama and am currently writing “Yeh Hai Aashiqui” that are love stories…In films as well I have explored romantic comedy, action, horror, emotional drama and am now working on an intriguing love story that will have a big cast with a big production house…But yes to answer your question I love writing thrillers but I don’t consider myself as a specialist of the genre as I am yet learning how to better my earlier work. Also, there is a buzz that you are the writer of Daag, Cinevistaas’ upcoming show for Star, which again is a thriller. What do you have to say about this show? Yes I am writing Daag for Cinevistaas. Since the show is yet to come on air I can’t reveal or talk much about the story but I can tell you for sure that it will be a super show. We have been working on it since quite some time and I have immaculately worked on the detailing of each character and their graphs and on monthly and weekly high points. The show is very well put together by Siddharth who is looking into the details to put together a stunning show. A show or film is as good as its team and in that sense I consider myself extremely fortunate that I am a part of an excellent team. Before even before coming on air, Daag has done for me what all of my other work put together hasn’t…it has made me a better and more confident writer. As a writer, what do you want to write on if given a free hand? I would love to write short season series like in west. I feel the time for such a scenario is not far in our industry as well. Designing and writing a show which will be on air for say six months and will come back for another season will be exciting as I feel that more quality products will be dished out for the audience and there will be variety in the programming. As far as genre is concerned I would love to write a full-fledged horror series as till now this is one area that has not been explored a lot. Also a fiction show on the mysteries of the parallel world…the world of spirits and their connection with our world…this necessarily does not need to be horror… Does it irk you as writer when you do not get the best of cast to depict the story you write? Has it happened to you ever? It does affect the quality of the show or film if the cast is not apt for their parts but I believe if the show or film fails it is a collective failure and no one unit or person can be blamed for it. It is a team failure and one has to learn from it and do better work ahead. Acknowledging and rectifying your faults is what will lead to success. Since we are on the topic of cast I must say that “Daag” has a tremendous ensemble cast. All of them are formidable actors and are itching in their best. I am extremely fortunate. As you mentioned, you also happen to write for Vikas Gupta’s Yeh Hai Aashiqui. How has this experience been of writing love stories? To say the least this has been simply beautiful. Vikas Gupta is not only a producer but a very good friend. He is very emotional and a very good human being. He always comes up with very different ideas and I love having brainstorming sessions with him. Writing love stories is real fun as I also had a love marriage and I think falling in love is a great process. I believe that no one can ever be a film maker if he has not fallen in love. Tell us about your stories in Yeh Hai Aashiqui… Viewers will get to see extraordinary tales of ordinary people. We have touched upon those love stories that are not traditional and which are clutter breakers. We have already showcased a story in which a young boy of 20 falls in love with a woman who is far older than him…who is married and has a child…who is going through an abusive marriage…how love gives both of them strength to move on in the right direction and make choices. We will be touching on many such heart rending inspiring stories. Lovers may not win in all of them but love surely is the victor always. Do you think many shows of today in Indian TV lack a good script? No I don’t think so!! How else would you explain shows like Diya aur Baati, Balika Vadhu, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai etc being such huge blockbusters since so many years and yet getting the desired numbers. “Good Script” is a very generic term and all writers, directors, creatives always try to come up with good stories and scripts…no one intentionally decides to make stuff that do not work…it’s an always a learning process and one should keep working honestly. Which are the shows that you like the most on TV right now? I love watching “Comedy Nights with Kapil” I make it a point to watch all the episodes and catch them on you tube if I miss them…I love comedies and will soon be writing one. I also watch “CID” as they have very interesting plots. I have fun watching Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, Bigg Boss, KBC. I keep watching all seasons of the popular US show “Friends”…along with my wife I watch at least two eps of “Friends” every night before sleeping…it just unwinds me. Do you have a role model or idol when it comes to writing? Salim and Javed are the writers whom I idolize. I also look up to Raju Hirani and Raj Kapoor.