"you need to marry into the production house."
Screenwriter Kanika Dhillon has called out fellow screenwriter Navjot Gulati for posting a tweet she believed was sexist.
Navjot is known for writing the likes of Jai Mummy Di and Ginny Weds Sunny.
In a tweet, he said that the key to scoring “top billing as screenwriter” is to “marry into the production house”.
In the tweet from June 11, 2021, Navjot said:
“If you want top billing as a screenwriter in a trailer (something that should be the norm) you need to marry into the production house.
“Once the writer becomes a family member, is treated like an actor-star. #Goals.”
Kanika Dhillon was not happy with the remarks and criticised Navjot, saying his comments were sexist and that he has a “pea-sized brain”.
She responded:
“Hi @Navjotalive I am quite shocked by ur extremely SEXIST – MISOGYNISTICÂ and bordering on IDIOTIC comment.
“Neither will I list down my body of work cos ur pea-sized brain will not be able to process a successful woman making it on her own!
“U may have a brain freeze! Have a good day.”
In a separate tweet, she continued: “And Mr @Navjotalive because of writers like YOU – who display their STUPIDITY on something that should be applauded as a welcome step by the writing fraternity- other very deserving writers do not get top billing as is their right – shame on u!”
Kanika quickly received support from Taapsee Pannu.
Taapsee, who is known for speaking about various societal issues, said:
“A progressive call to credit a writer turned into a sexist rant by the age-old misogyny of crediting a woman’s success to the house she marries in or the man she married.
“Your righteous call for equal credit can’t be overtaken by the bitterness in u.”
Navjot’s tweet came on the same day the trailer for Haseen Dillruba was released.
Given that Kanika received a high billing for the film and that Navjot’s tweet came on the trailer release day, it suggests that the tweet was directed at Kanika.
The film stars Taapsee and was written by Kanika Dhillon.
It is a thriller that follows a love triangle murder mystery. It is set to release on Netflix on July 2, 2021.
Kanika has written the likes of Kedarnath and Judgementall Hai Kya.
In January 2021, Kanika married Himanshu Sharma.
Himanshu has been a longtime creative partner of filmmaker Aanand L Rai, whose Colour Yellow Productions has produced Haseen Dillruba.
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