Pankaj Dubey

Pankaj Dubey is an Indian novelist, journalist, screenwriter, film maker, producer, and social entrepreneur.^[1]

Pankaj Dubey
Pankaj Dubey in 2019
Born	Ranchi, Bihar, India (now in Jharkhand, India)
Language	English, Hindi
Education	Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws, Masters
Alma mater	University of Delhi Coventry School of Art and Design
Notable awards	Youth Icon Award for Social Entrepreneurship, Global Innoventure Award (2018)

Early life and education

Pankaj Dubey was born in Ranchi, Bihar (now Jharkhand) and grew up in Chaibasa. His father was a professor of English literature.^[2] Dubey completed a Bachelor of Arts in History (1999) and an LLB (2002) from the University of Delhi. He subsequently obtained a master’s degree in Applied Communications at Coventry School of Art and Design, UK, in 2003.^[3]

Career

Dubey began his media career in 2003 as a presenter and journalist with the BBC World Service in London.^[4] He made his literary debut with the novel What a Loser in 2014, which was simultaneously published in Hindi as Loser Kahin Ka!.^[5]

His second novel, Ishqiyapa: To Hell with Love, was published by Penguin Books India's mass-market imprint Penguin Metro Reads in 2015.^[6] This was followed by Love Curry and Trending in Love, both contemporary romantic comedies. His fifth novel, One String Attached, is set in Ayodhya and explores themes of identity and conflict.^[7]

Film and production

Dubey has contributed to Indian cinema both as a writer and producer. He served as a script supervisor on Ghanchakkar (2013)^[8] and Chauranga (2014).^[9] He produced short films like Geelee (Wet Dreams) and Naach Ganesh (Dance of Ganesha).

In 2021, Dubey directed the short film Maratha Mandir Cinema, starring Sarika and Swanand Kirkire.^[10] The film focused on the cultural impact of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge on sex workers in Mumbai’s Kamathipura. It was crowdfunded and nominated for the Jio Filmfare Short Film Awards, and was also screened at the Cannes and Vancouver film festivals.^[11]

As of 2021, he is reportedly developing a feature film adaptation of What a Loser! in collaboration with producer Gautam Ved.^[12]

Social initiatives

In 2002, Dubey founded SPRIHA (Society for the Promotion and Inculcation of Human Aspirations),^[13] a non-governmental organization focused on youth empowerment and cultural education. Under SPRIHA, he initiated the Sadak Chhaap Film Festival.^[14]

Awards and recognition

• Navodit Lekhak Award, Delhi Hindi Academy (2002)^[15]
• Youth Icon Award for Social Entrepreneurship (2010)^[16]
• Selected for Writers’ Residency at Seoul Art Space Yeonhui-dong, South Korea (2016)^[17]
• Global Innoventure Award for Literature and Storytelling, awarded at the House of Lords, London (2018)^[18]

Selected bibliography

• What a Loser! (2014)
• Ishqiyapa: To Hell with Love (2015)
• Love Curry (2017)
• Trending in Love (2018)
• One String Attached (2023)

Filmography (selected)

• Maratha Mandir Cinema (Director, 2021)
• Naach Ganesh (Producer)
• Geelee (Producer)
• Chauranga (Script Supervisor)
• Ghanchakkar (Script Supervisor)