Sumit Arora grew up in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, far from the glitter and allure of the film industry. But a profound personal loss in his teenage years shaped his instinct for storytelling. He followed his heart and the craft all the way to Mumbai, where, after an initial struggle, he landed writing roles for shows likeDill Mill Gayye (2007), Chhoona Hai Aasmaan(2007), Sadda Haq (2013), and others. Sumit has been a screenwriter for films like Stree (2018), 83 (2021), Jawan (2023), and the recent Border 2 (2026). 

In this freewheeling conversation, we ask what drives him, and he tells us how the best dialogues are sometimes born from personal experiences. 

Q1. When you were growing up, did you picture yourself in cinema? 

I was primarily into literature. I used to read books and comics; they were a big part of my growing-up years, more than films. In fact, I never imagined I would write for films until 2001, when Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2001)was nominated for an Oscar. 

After this, screenwriting became like a childish fascination. It brought me the realisation that there was a whole world out there, and that storytelling could take you very far, with so many things to conquer and achieve.  

Q2. When you look back, what feels like a turning point for you?

There were two of them. Professionally, the inflection point was when Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2001) and Gadar: Ek Prem Katha (2001) were released.........

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