Kanika K Dhillon is a multitasker. She’s an author, a film scriptwriter and the wife of a successful filmmaker. Juggling all of that, with the success of her Anushka-starrer Size Zero, Kanika Dhillon has managed to get out her third novel, The Dance of Durga.
From her London School of Economics days to becoming one of the bestselling authors in the industry, her love for writing hasn’t diminished any. “Writing was always on the cards — in college and even before that,” she says with a smile. “I was always a bright child in school, so having a good college degree was something I wanted as my backup plan. And trust me, you should always have a backup plan,” she says.
The Dance of Durga is a powerful drama about human desire, faith, and a woman’s journey to finding true love in life. Her first book being a work of satire and second, mystery fiction, it is clear that Kanika enjoys experimenting. “A lot of people asked me to stick with the first theme but I convinced my publishers about my writing skills and as you can see, it worked out well,” she laughs.
Now that the book is out, we ask Kanika who is her favorite character from the book. “It’s like asking me about my children. It is very difficult to choose one. But because I am from Punjab and my main character is from the same place, it is easier to relate to her,” she says.
But what about movies? Can she pick a favourite between movies and writing? “Movies are all about teamwork, coordination and deadlines. Whereas, books are about giving my mood a priority and writing when I want. I like flipping between both as it keeps me going,” says the Indian Telly Award for Best Sitcom/Comedy Writer nominee. Incidentally, she was also associated with Shah Rukh Khan’s Ra One and Billu.
After so many years in the industry, what Kanika hopes for is a day when authors are given more time and freedom to write. She says, “Writing is a creative process and it takes time. Writers in India need more financial security while they can utilise the time to come up with good books.” Being a part of a dynamic industry, she has one bit of advice for aspiring gen-y authors. “Develop a thick skin and just write. Don’t stop writing even if you face criticism,” she signs off. Words to live by, if you want to last in this industry.
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