Akshat Verma

Biography

Akshat Verma is an Indian screenwriter, producer, director, and songwriter known for his distinctive storytelling style in Hindi cinema. He gained widespread recognition for writing the dark comedy Delhi Belly, which became notable for its unconventional humor and sharp dialogue. Over the years, Verma has worked across films and short films, establishing himself as a creative voice in contemporary Indian filmmaking.

Career

Akshat Verma first gained major attention with the film Delhi Belly, which was produced by Aamir Khan. Released in 2011, the film became popular for its bold narrative style and won several awards for its writing. Verma also contributed as a lyricist, writing the lyrics for several songs on the film’s soundtrack.

In 2018, Verma made his directorial debut with Kaalakaandi, a dark comedy thriller starring Saif Ali Khan. The film explored themes of morality, chaos, and self-discovery through multiple interconnected stories set over the course of one night.

Earlier, Verma wrote the screenplay for The Ode, which was directed by Nilanjan Neil Lahiri and featured actors Sachin Bhatt, Wilson Cruz, and Sakina Jaffrey. The film was adapted from the novel Ode to Lata, written by Ghalib Shiraz Dhalla.

In 2016, Verma wrote, directed, and produced the short film Mama's Boys, which presented a contemporary interpretation inspired by themes from the Indian epic Mahabharata. The film received critical appreciation for its modern and creative take on mythological storytelling.