Deep in the editing room for my upcoming film Gandhari, in pre-production for the next, and constantly crafting stories.

The birth of my son, Veer. Nothing tops that. Professionally, the first time I watched a story I’d written – Manmarziyaan – come alive on the big screen.

Losing a dear friend and colleague to an untimely illness. It left an emotional void.

Namo Namo Ji Shankara by Amit Trivedi; Raanjhan by Parampara Thakur; Yun Hi ( From the movie Tanu Weds Manu) by Mohit Chauhan.

One thing I’d never buy

A designer leash for my toddler. (Let’s be honest – he walks me.)

Sarson ka saag and makke ki roti, home-style, full of comfort.

Last thing I ordered online

A detailed world map. My son’s current obsession is geography and I’m happily enabling it.

App I check before bed

Google. Usually searching: “How to train a toddler without losing your mind.” (Spoiler: I haven’t cracked it yet.)

Advice I’d give my 18-year-old self

Breathe. Move forward. It all works out. Even the chaos has a purpose.

My favourite subject in school

History – stories of civilisations, revolutions, and resilience. Guess storytelling was always in my bones.

Honesty, with a good sense of humour as a bonus.

Multitasking like a pro. Juggling motherhood, running my production house, and writing screenplays without dropping the pen (or the lunchbox!).

A superpower I wish I had

To stretch time. There just aren’t enough hours in a day to dream, do, and be present.

My favourite Sunday memory

Laid-back picnics with my two boys – my husband Himanshu and my son Veer.

My plans for next Sunday

Holidaying with family. Hopefully somewhere with no network and clear sky.

My most star-struck moment

Meeting my son for the first time. No celebrity moment comes close.

My favourite bad habit

Calling a spade a spade. No filters, no pretence, even when it’s uncomfortable.

If I could time travel…

I wouldn’t change a thing. I’d make the same glorious mistakes, because they shaped the woman I am today.

The best thing about fame

The ability to connect directly with audiences. When someone tells me a story I wrote changed or touched them, it’s the real reward.

The worst thing about fame

The constant pressure to never falter.

Get to know... Kanika Dhillon

ByPurnima Goswami Sharma

Updated on: Sep 26, 2025 02:28 PM IST

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Screenwriter and producer Kanika Dhillon (@Kanika.D) is multitasking like a pro, wishing she could stretch time, and working on new films

Get to know... Kanika Dhillon

Currently I am
Deep in the editing room for my upcoming film Gandhari, in pre-production for the next, and constantly crafting stories.
High point in life
The birth of my son, Veer. Nothing tops that. Professionally, the first time I watched a story I’d written – Manmarziyaan – come alive on the big screen.
Low point in life
Losing a dear friend and colleague to an untimely illness. It left an emotional void.
On my playlist
Namo Namo Ji Shankara by Amit Trivedi; Raanjhan by Parampara Thakur; Yun Hi ( From the movie Tanu Weds Manu) by Mohit Chauhan.
One thing I’d never buy
A designer leash for my toddler. (Let’s be honest – he walks me.)
Today I’m craving
Sarson ka saag and makke ki roti, home-style, full of comfort.
Last thing I ordered online
A detailed world map. My son’s current obsession is geography and I’m happily enabling it.
App I check before bed
Google. Usually searching: “How to train a toddler without losing your mind.” (Spoiler: I haven’t cracked it yet.)
Advice I’d give my 18-year-old self
Breathe. Move forward. It all works out. Even the chaos has a purpose.
My favourite subject in school
History – stories of civilisations, revolutions, and resilience. Guess storytelling was always in my bones.
I’d swipe right on
Honesty, with a good sense of humour as a bonus.
My secret skill
Multitasking like a pro. Juggling motherhood, running my production house, and writing screenplays without dropping the pen (or the lunchbox!).
A superpower I wish I had
To stretch time. There just aren’t enough hours in a day to dream, do, and be present.
My favourite Sunday memory
Laid-back picnics with my two boys – my husband Himanshu and my son Veer.
My plans for next Sunday
Holidaying with family. Hopefully somewhere with no network and clear sky.
My most star-struck moment
Meeting my son for the first time. No celebrity moment comes close.
My favourite bad habit
Calling a spade a spade. No filters, no pretence, even when it’s uncomfortable.
If I could time travel…
I wouldn’t change a thing. I’d make the same glorious mistakes, because they shaped the woman I am today.
The best thing about fame
The ability to connect directly with audiences. When someone tells me a story I wrote changed or touched them, it’s the real reward.
The worst thing about fame
The constant pressure to never falter.