MUMBAI: 74% of screenwriters writers feel they are not paid fairly up from 63% in 2023. In theatrical, only 6% feel that producers value scripts over stars. 41% writers use AI tools at least sometimes.
Talent agency Tulsea and media insights firm Ormax Mediareleased The Right Draft 2026, the second edition of their industry research report on India’s professional screenwriters. Based on a nationwide survey of 254 writers, the report captures writer perceptions across compensation, credit, feedback systems, creative autonomy, mentorship, workplace environment, and the evolving role of AI in the writing process.
First published in 2023 as India’s first report focused exclusively on writers’ perceptions of the entertainment ecosystem, The Right Draft was designed to bring measurement and objectivity to a conversation that is often anecdotal. The 2026 edition expands the lens to reflect the industry’s evolving formats and realities, including micro-dramas and the practical impact of AI on writing workflows.
The survey was answered by 254 writers across age groups and experience levels, spanning formats such as OTT fiction series, direct-to-OTT films, theatrical films, TV fiction (GEC), non-fiction, documentaries, advertising, gaming, and micro-dramas.
Some key highlights of the report:
- Pay & payouts: 74% writers feel they are not paid fairly (up from 63% in 2023). 52% say payments are not timely (up from 40%), and 78% say they have to constantly follow up for due payments.
- Credit & visibility: Over half (54%) disagree that writers are given fair credit. Nearly two-thirds (64%) say there is no defined industry standard for credits that producers/platforms follow.
- Scripts vs. stars: In theatrical, only 6% feel producers value scripts over stars (vs 83% who feel stars dominate). In OTT, the perceived value of scripts has declined since 2023, with 62% now saying scripts are prioritised/equal (down from 76%).
- Mentorship & support systems: Only 19% feel they have access to good mentors (down from 30% in 2023). 76% feel the industry does not provide adequate infrastructure for writers to develop their craft, and only 38% feel they have access to effective grievance redressal.
- AI & changing expectations: 41% writers use AI tools at least sometimes. 47% do not see AI as a threat, yet 68% feel AI reduces the value of human creativity in producers’ eyes, and 50% say producers now expect faster turnarounds assuming AI usage.
Speaking about the report, Chaitanya Hegde, Co-founder, Tulsea Media, said: “With the second edition of The Right Draft, we wanted to deepen the industry’s understanding of what writers’ experience on the ground – across pay, credit, feedback, nurturing structures, and now AI. The data points to some shifts and some stubborn constants. Our hope is that the report helps move conversations from perception to process, and toward more consistent, fair, and creator-friendly systems.”.
Shailesh Kapoor, Founder-CEO, Ormax Media, added: “Writers sit at the core of the storytelling ecosystem, yet too many friction points remain structural rather than episodic. By measuring writer sentiment across key dimensions, The Right Draft is intended to be a practical input into how the industry can build stronger alignment, accountability, and creative ownership.”
The Right Draft: 2026 is organised across seven sections: ght Pay, The Right Credit, The Right Feedback, The Right Value, The Right Nurturing, The Right Tools, and The Right Environment, capturing writer perceptions across the creative and business realities of screenwriting in India.
