India’s content boom leaves writers behind: Tulsea-Ormax survey flags pay squeeze, credit gaps, and AI pressure

Even as India’s film and streaming business celebrates record revenues, its screenwriters say they are worse off than three years ago.

That’s the central tension emerging from The Right Draft 2026, a nationwide survey of 254 professional writers conducted by talent agency Tulsea and media insights firm Ormax Media. The report tracks writer sentiment across pay, credit, feedback systems, mentorship, workplace environment, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in writing workflows. 

The findings suggest structural stress points in an industry that is simultaneously expanding in format—OTT series, direct-to-digital films, micro-dramas, gaming—and tightening in economics.

Pay dissatisfaction deepens

Nearly three-fourths (74%) of writers say they are not paid fairly for their work—up sharply from 63% in 2023. More than half (52%) report payments are not made on time, and 78% say they have to constantly follow up for dues.

Over half also believe their ability to negotiate fees has reduced compared to three to four years ago. Two-thirds report that the scope of work often expands after contracts are signed, without a proportional increase in fees. 

Profit-sharing remains rare. Sixty-six percent say they have neither been offered nor asked for a bonus or performance-linked upside. Yet 83% say they would feel greater ownership if such structures were built into contracts.

The disconnect is notable at a time when box office collections and streaming investments have rebounded post-pandemic. The survey itself questions why writers feel worse off despite 2025 being described as a record year for the film industry.

Scripts vs stars: theatrical remains skewed

Theatrical films continue to be perceived as star-driven. Only 6% of writers believe producers value scripts over stars in theatrical projects; 83% feel stars dominate.

OTT performs relatively better, but even here sentiment has weakened. In 2023, 76% of writers felt scripts were prioritised or valued equally to stars. In 2026, that number has dropped to 62%.

The perception shift comes as streaming platforms recalibrate content spending, trim slates, and prioritise marquee-led projects amid subscription and ad-revenue pressures.

Credit remains inconsistent

On recognition, little has changed.

More than half (54%) disagree that writers are given fair credit. Nearly two-thirds (64%) say there is no defined industry standard for crediting that producers and platforms consistently follow.

Over 50% say they do not receive equal credit when co-writing with directors. More than 60% say they are shortchanged when collaborating with senior writers.

Writers also report declining visibility in marketing assets such as trailers and posters, and say they are rarely acknowledged at promotional events or award shows.

For an industry increasingly dependent on intellectual property and franchises, the absence of standardised credit norms points to a governance gap rather than an episodic grievance.

Feedback and creative control under strain

More than half of respondents say feedback is neither timely nor structured. Fifty-four percent describe it as vague and generic, limiting its usefulness. Nearly two-thirds believe they do not have the final word when disagreements arise with producers, directors, or showrunners.

As a result, 35% of writers have already transitioned into directing or producing—up from 26% in 2023—and 56% say they have considered doing so. Creative autonomy, ownership of IP, and perceived lack of respect are key drivers.

The migration reflects a structural rebalancing: writers seeking greater control in a value chain where bargaining power often sits with stars, studios, and platforms.

Mentorship gap widens

Access to mentorship has deteriorated. Only 19% feel they have access to good mentors, down from 30% in 2023. Seventy-six percent believe the industry does not provide adequate infrastructure for writers to develop their craft. Just 37% feel they have access to effective grievance redressal mechanisms. 

In an ecosystem where direction, cinematography, and other crafts have clearer apprenticeship pathways, writing remains largely solitary—an issue the report flags as both a creative and mental-health risk.

AI: tool, threat, or leverage?

Artificial intelligence is now embedded in writing workflows. Forty-one percent of writers say they use AI tools at least sometimes. Three-fourths believe AI can be helpful at certain stages of the process. Yet 68% say AI reduces the perceived value of human creativity in the eyes of producers, and 50% feel producers now expect faster turnarounds assuming AI usage. 

Interestingly, nearly half do not view AI as a threat to their profession. But 71% believe writers who use AI are uncomfortable revealing it publicly—suggesting a reputational stigma even as adoption grows.

The duality captures the moment: AI as productivity enabler, but also as a negotiating lever for tighter budgets and timelines.

Workplace risks persist

Forty percent of writers report facing some form of discrimination in their careers. Gender and sexuality-based discrimination is the most prevalent, with 58% of female writers reporting such experiences. Thirty-one percent of women say they have faced sexual harassment at work.

These numbers underscore that beyond pay and credit, workplace culture remains an unresolved risk.

Structural, not episodic

In commentary accompanying the findings, Tulsea and Ormax frame the friction points as structural rather than episodic. The data suggests that while content formats have diversified—OTT series, AVOD, micro-dramas, gaming—the foundational economics and governance mechanisms around writing have not kept pace.

For producers and platforms, the takeaway is pragmatic. Writing remains the starting point of IP creation. If dissatisfaction deepens, the industry may face higher churn, more writers turning producer-director, and greater negotiation friction.

In a year of expanding revenues, the question raised by the report is pointed: if the business is growing, why does the core creative workforce feel diminished?

For now, the numbers suggest that India’s storytelling engine is running—but not without strain.