The writer of filmmaker Anubhav Sinha’s upcoming feature Assi is the highest-paid crew member in it. Gaurav Solanki sees this as a much-welcome move that marks a significant shift in how writers are valued in the industry.
The film highlighted this distinction in its first poster, which was released on social media earlier this week.
“Believe it or not, the highest paid crew member on this film is the writer,” read the tagline.
Solanki revealed that he became aware of his remuneration—reportedly higher than that of the film’s stars—only recently, though he declined to disclose the exact amount.
“I believe it sets a new benchmark in Hindi cinema, and I feel happy and proud that this has happened. It is not just about money; it is about respect that was long overdue. So it is definitely a good thing for the entire writers’ community because the script is the backbone of a film,” Solanki told PTI in an interview.
“Whether it is a big tentpole movie or a smaller-budget film, everything begins as a story on a plain white sheet of paper. In that sense, this film is making a statement that writers and scripts deserve the respect they are due—at least in content-driven cinema,” he added.
A courtroom drama headlined by Taapsee Pannu, Assi also stars Kani Kusruti, Revathy, Manoj Pahwa, Kumud Mishra, and Zeeshan Ayyub, with special appearances by Naseeruddin Shah, Supriya Pathak, and Seema Bhargava.
In a press statement, the makers described Assi as a relentless investigative thriller that unfolds through an intense and power-packed courtroom narrative, revolving around an assault on a workaholic woman and examines the profound impact of the incident on her life.
“It also explores how such an event affects the lives of the accused or perpetrators, and how the justice system functions. It is an investigative thriller and a courtroom drama built around these themes,” he said.
Scheduled for release on February 20, Assi reunites Pannu and Sinha after Mulk and Thappad, and marks Solanki’s return to collaboration with the director following Article 15.