Rajat Arora

{{Infobox person

| name = Rajat Arora

| image = Rajat Arora 2017.jpg

| caption = Rajat Arora in 2017

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1975|07|23}}

| birth_place = New Delhi, India

| occupation = Screenwriter

| yearsactive = 2004 – present

| birthname = Rajat Arora

| alma_mater = Asian Academy of Film & Television{{Cite web|url=http://aaft.com/schoolofmasscommunication/alumni/|title = Notable alumni of School of Mass Communication}}

}}

Rajat Arora (born 23 July 1975) is an Indian screenwriter of Hindi-language films and television. He has written numerous screenplays, including Taxi No. 9211 (2006), Chandni Chowk to China (2009), Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai (2010),{{Cite web |last=Hungama |first=Bollywood |date=2021-07-30 |title=11 Years of Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai EXCLUSIVE: “I have not written immortal lines. Ajay Devgn has made those dialogues IMMORTAL” – Rajat Arora 11 : Bollywood News - Bollywood Hungama |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/11-years-upon-time-mumbaai-exclusive-not-written-immortal-lines-ajay-devgn-made-dialogues-immortal-rajat-arora/ |access-date=2025-01-01 |language=en}} The Dirty Picture (2011),{{Cite web |last=Hungama |first=Bollywood |date=2021-12-02 |title=10 Years of The Dirty Picture EXCLUSIVE: “We had approached Kangana Ranaut initially. But she felt that she didn’t want to do the film at that point” – Rajat Arora 10 : Bollywood News - Bollywood Hungama |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/10-years-dirty-picture-exclusive-approached-kangana-ranaut-initially-felt-didnt-want-film-point-rajat-arora/ |access-date=2025-01-01 |language=en}} Kick (2014),{{Cite web |title=10 Years of 'Kick': Salman Khan’s film celebrated with a heartfelt video |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/entertainment/10-years-of-kick-salman-khans-film-celebrated-with-a-heartfelt-video-3121657 |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}} Gabbar Is Back (2015), Azhaar (2016) and Baadshaho (2017).{{Cite web |date=2017-03-17 |title=From Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai to Azhar, 17 film dialogues by Rajat Arora which prove no writer has more swag than him |url=https://www.inuth.com/entertainment/bollywood/from-the-dirty-picture-to-azhar-17-film-dialogues-by-rajat-arora-which-prove-no-writer-has-more-swag-than-him/ |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=InUth |language=en-US}} He has also written the Indian series CID.

Arora collaborates often with director Milan Luthria.

Early life and education

Arora was born in New Delhi, India. He is an alumnus of Asian Academy of Film & Television and holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Delhi University.

Career

Arora wrote the dialogues for the film Bluffmaster (2005), directed by Rohan Sippy.{{Cite web |date=2022-02-05 |title=Abhishek Bachchan’s Bluffmaster: The con film that deserved more love |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/abhishek-bachchan-movies-bluffmaster-the-con-film-that-deserved-more-love-7754326/ |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}} In 2006, he worked with director Milan Luthria and wrote the film Taxi No. 9211.{{Cite web |last=Hungama |first=Bollywood |date=2024-02-24 |title=18 Years of Taxi No 9211 EXCLUSIVE: “After Ab Tak Chhappan, no one cast Nana Patekar for 1 ½ years. He was sitting at home. I was the one who thought of him” – Milan Luthria 18 : Bollywood News - Bollywood Hungama |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/18-years-taxi-no-9211-exclusive-ab-tak-chhappan-no-one-cast-nana-patekar-1-%C2%BD-years-sitting-home-one-thought-milan-luthr/ |access-date=2025-01-01 |language=en}} Luthria and Arora have since worked together for the films Once Upon A Time in Mumbai (2010), The Dirty Picture (2011), Once Upon ay Time in Mumbai Dobaara! (2013), Baadshaho (2017), Tadap (2021). In 2009, he wrote Chandini Chowk to China directed by Nikhil Advani.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-26 |title=Nikkhil Advani reflects on ‘massive disaster’ Chandni Chowk To China: ‘Studio head was test-driving Mercedes, bought Honda City after release’ |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/nikkhil-advani-says-chandni-chowk-to-china-was-massive-disaster-9640102/ |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}} In 2014, he worked with Sajid Nadiadwala for Kick. In 2015, he wrote the additional screenplay for the film Gabbar Is Back, produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali.{{Cite web |date=2015-04-27 |title=Have taken a big commercial leap with ‘Gabbar Is Back’: Krish |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/have-taken-a-big-commercial-leap-with-gabbar-is-back-krish/ |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}} In 2017, he worked with Luthria for the third time for Badshaaho.{{Cite web |last=Banerjee |first=Arnab |date=2017-09-02 |title=Baadshaho movie review: It doesn't rise above the routine |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/020917/baadshaho-movie-review-it-doesnt-rise-above-the-routine.html |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=www.deccanchronicle.com |language=en}}

In 2019, he wrote the Hindi version of Captain Marvel. In 2021, he wrote the Hindi version of the bilingual film, Thalaivii.{{Cite web |date=2021-09-22 |title=Thalaivii 2 To Focus Jayalalithaa's Post-CM Journey; Writer Confirms Discussion With Kangana |url=https://www.indiatimes.com/entertainment/celebs/sequel-to-kangana-ranauts-thalaivii-is-on-the-cards-writer-shares-details-of-the-film-549999.html |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=Indiatimes |language=en-IN}} In 2022, he co-produced the Netflix Original, Plan A Plan B.{{Cite web |last=Hungama |first=Bollywood |date=2021-08-16 |title=EXCLUSIVE: Riteish Deshmukh, Tamannaah Bhatia and Rajat Arora make their Netflix debut with Plan A Plan B : Bollywood News - Bollywood Hungama |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/exclusive-riteish-deshmukh-tamannaah-bhatia-rajat-arora-make-netflix-debut-plan-plan-b/ |access-date=2025-01-01 |language=en}}

Filmography

= Television =

class="wikitable"

!Year

! colspan="3" |Title

!Credited as

2002-2007

| colspan="3" |CID

|Screenwriter

= Films =

class="wikitable sortable" ! rowspan="2" \| Year ! rowspan="2" \| Film ! colspan="4" \| Credited as
Screenplay ! Dialogues ! Story ! Notes
2005 \|Bluffmaster! \|{{No}} \|{{Yes}} \|{{No}} \|
rowspan="2" \|2006 \|Family \|{{Yes}} \|{{No}} \|{{No}} \|
Taxi No. 9211 \|{{Yes}} \|{{Yes}} \|{{Yes}} \|
2007 \|Hattrick \|{{Yes}} \|{{Yes}} \|{{Yes}} \|
2009 \|Chandni Chowk to China \|{{Yes}} \|{{Yes}} \|{{Yes}} \|
2010 \|Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai \|{{Yes}} \|{{Yes}} \|{{Yes}} \|
2011 \|The Dirty Picture \|{{Yes}} \|{{Yes}} \|{{Yes}} \|Also lyricist for the song Ishq Sufiyana
2013 \|Once Upon ay Time in Mumbai Dobaara! \|{{Yes}} \|{{Yes}} \|{{Yes}} \|
2014 \|Kick \|{{Yes}} \|{{Yes}} \|{{Yes}} \|
2015 \|Gabbar Is Back \|{{Partial\|Additional}} \|{{Yes}} \|{{No}} \|
2016 \|Azhar \|{{Yes}} \|{{Yes}} \|{{Yes}} \|
2017 \|Baadshaho \|{{Yes}} \|{{Yes}} \|{{Yes}} \|
2019 \|Captain Marvel \|{{Yes}} \|{{Yes}} \|{{No}} \|Hindi version
rowspan="2" \|2021 \|Thalaivi \|{{Yes}} \|{{Yes}} \|{{Yes}} \|Hindi version
Tadap \|{{Yes}} \|{{Yes}} \|{{Yes}} \|{{Cite web \|last=Hungama \|first=Bollywood \|date=2018-11-26 \|title=Kick writer Rajat Arora comes on board as the writer of RX100 remake starring debutant Ahaan Shetty : Bollywood News - Bollywood Hungama \|url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/kick-writer-rajat-arora-comes-board-writer-rx100-remake-starring-debutant-ahaan-shetty/ \|access-date=2025-01-01 \|language=en}}
rowspan="2" \|2022 \|Heropanti 2 \|{{Yes}} \|{{Yes}} \|{{Yes}} \|{{Cite news\|date=29 October 2020\|title=Rajat Arora As Writer For Much Awaited Tiger Shroff Starrer Heropanti 2\|language=en-US\|work=Bollywood Hungama\|url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/exclusive-kick-2-sajid-nadiadwala-gets-rajat-arora-board-writer-tiger-shroffs-heropanti-2/\|access-date=30 October 2021}}
Plan A Plan B \|{{No}} \|{{No}} \|{{No}} \|Producer

class="wikitable sortable"

! rowspan="2" | Year

! rowspan="2" | Film

! colspan="4" | Credited as

Screenplay

! Dialogues

! Story

! Notes

2005

|Bluffmaster!

|{{No}}

|{{Yes}}

|{{No}}

rowspan="2" |2006

|Family

|{{Yes}}

|{{No}}

Taxi No. 9211

|{{Yes}}

2007

|Hattrick

|{{Yes}}

2009

|Chandni Chowk to China

|{{Yes}}

2010

|Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai

|{{Yes}}

2011

|The Dirty Picture

|{{Yes}}

|Also lyricist for the song Ishq Sufiyana

2013

|Once Upon ay Time in Mumbai Dobaara!

|{{Yes}}

2014

|Kick

|{{Yes}}

2015

|Gabbar Is Back

|{{Partial|Additional}}

|{{Yes}}

|{{No}}

2016

|Azhar

|{{Yes}}

2017

|Baadshaho

|{{Yes}}

2019

|Captain Marvel

|{{Yes}}

|{{No}}

|Hindi version

rowspan="2" |2021

|Thalaivi

|{{Yes}}

|Hindi version

Tadap

|{{Yes}}

|{{Cite web |last=Hungama |first=Bollywood |date=2018-11-26 |title=Kick writer Rajat Arora comes on board as the writer of RX100 remake starring debutant Ahaan Shetty : Bollywood News - Bollywood Hungama |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/kick-writer-rajat-arora-comes-board-writer-rx100-remake-starring-debutant-ahaan-shetty/ |access-date=2025-01-01 |language=en}}

rowspan="2" |2022

|Heropanti 2

|{{Yes}}

|{{Cite news|date=29 October 2020|title=Rajat Arora As Writer For Much Awaited Tiger Shroff Starrer Heropanti 2|language=en-US|work=Bollywood Hungama|url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/exclusive-kick-2-sajid-nadiadwala-gets-rajat-arora-board-writer-tiger-shroffs-heropanti-2/|access-date=30 October 2021}}

Plan A Plan B

|{{No}}

|Producer

Awards and accolades

In 2004, Arora was awarded 'Best Teleplay Writer' by the Indian Television Academy. He also has an entry at the Guinness Book of World Records for co-writing CID and getting the title of 'Longest Single Shot Episode'.{{cn|date=July 2024}}

Arora has also been awarded the Hindi Seva Samman for his literary contribution towards Hindi Language.{{Cite web|title = Malwa Rangmanch Samiti|url = http://malwarangmanchsamiti.com/awards.html|website = malwarangmanchsamiti.com|access-date = 2016-01-31}}

class="wikitable"

!Year

!Movie

!Award

!Category

rowspan="3" |2011

| rowspan="3" |Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai

|Zee Cine Awards

|Best Dialogues

Producers Guild Film Awards

|Best Screenplay

Global Indian Film and Television Honours