Sumit Arora’s big November: two releases, two mediums
Writer Sumit Arora enjoyed a rare double treat on November 21 — The Family Man Season 3 premiered on Amazon Prime Video while Farhan Akhtar’s war drama 120 Bahadur hit cinemas. Arora was at IFFI, Goa, watching audience reactions for both the web series and the film, and called the day “interesting and overwhelming.”
How he approaches dialogue: no “dialogue baazi”
Known for sharp and grounded writing in shows like The Family Man, Dahaad, Guns & Gulaabs and films such as Stree, ’83, Jawan and Chandu Champion, Arora says he never writes punchlines for their own sake. For 120 Bahadur, based on real events and real people, every line had to feel earned.
He gives the example of a pivotal moment when Farhan’s character tells his men, “Main peeche nahin hatunga”, and reminds them they’re “sons of farmers.” The climactic line, “Zameen ke liye ladna tumhare khoon mein hai. Aur iss baar, baat zameen ki nahin, hamare sarzameen ki hai,” came organically to suit the emotional context rather than to create a catchy quote.
On working with Farhan Akhtar
Although Arora had previously worked on the Farhan-produced Dahaad, this was his first close interaction with Farhan as a director. He describes Farhan as “thorough, sharp and witty,” someone who listens and respects ideas from the team. Watching Farhan’s creative process up close — especially given Arora’s admiration for films like Dil Chahta Hai — was “very enriching.”
Shooting in Ladakh: tough terrain, real challenges
Arora travelled to Ladakh twice during the shoot. He admits high-altitude shoots are demanding — many crew members fell sick and he himself suffered brief altitude sickness, joking that his condition mirrored Radio Operator Ramchander Yadav (played by Sparsh Walia) in the film. He forgot to take an acclimatization tablet and experienced breathing issues, though the illness didn’t last long.
Jawan, Shah Rukh Khan and a deserved National Award
Having spent 100 days on the sets of Jawan, Arora felt a deep pride when Shah Rukh Khan won the National Award for that film. “It felt like an achievement of a man you have always loved,” he said, adding that the award was long overdue and very deserving.
What’s next?
- Dahaad 2 is confirmed and Arora is on board.
- He’s working on a new film with director Kabir Khan.
- Other projects are in development and will be announced soon, and he’s also connected to Border 2.
Quick look: notable works
- TV/Streams: The Family Man, Dahaad, Guns & Gulaabs, Citadel: Honey Bunny
- Films: Stree (2018), ’83 (2021), Jawan (2023), Chandu Champion (2024), 120 Bahadur (2024)
Sumit Arora continues to balance commercial punch with emotional truth, whether writing a streaming hit or a patriotic battlefield drama — and November’s dual release only highlighted his range and restraint as a writer.
