Aryan Khan’s Netflix satire The Ba***ds of Bollywood dominated the 7th Screenwriters Association Awards, winning Best Screenplay and Best Dialogue in the Web Comedy/Musical/Romance category. The star-studded ceremony honoured 15 winners across film, web and TV, with jury members sifting through hundreds of entries to spotlight standout writing.
Filmmaker Aryan Khan’s disruptive satire The Ba***ds of Bollywood emerged as one of the major victors at the 7th Screenwriters Association Awards. The ceremony also saw other critically acclaimed titles secure multiple wins, including the gritty thriller Stolen and the hard-hitting prison drama Black Warrant.
The star-studded event brought together industry stalwarts to celebrate the finest cinematic, streaming, and television writing of the past year.
“In this era of AI, I am happy to see so many living, breathing, whole human beings,” said lyricist and SWA General Secretary, Raj Shekhar, at the ceremony, which presented 15 honours across feature films, web series, television, and lyrics.
Netflix's The Ba***ds of Bollywood converted both of its nominations into wins in the Web Comedy/Musical/ Romance category. Khan won Best Dialogue, alongside the Best Screenplay honor which he shared with co-writers Bilal Siddiqi and Manav Chauhan.
“A few years ago, Aryan, Manav, and I sat down—perhaps out of sheer arrogance—to write a show that we would find funny. We believed that if we found it funny, the world would too. I guess we were right,” said Siddiqi while receiving the trophy from filmmaker Aanand L. Rai and actor- filmmaker Sachin Pilgaonkar.
“I've always thought a writers' room is like a courtroom—because you are simultaneously the lawyer, the judge, the victim, and the criminal," Chauhan added. "And I think it’s the only room where you can commit a crime, offend someone, and still go home with an award.”
The feature film categories witnessed a similar sweep, with the gritty, internationally acclaimed thriller Stolen leading from the front with two major victories. Karan Tejpal, Gaurav Dhingra, and Swapnil Salkar "Agadbumb" clinched both Best Story and Best Screenplay for the film. Meanwhile, Reshu Nath took home the Best Dialogue (Feature Film) honor for the Yami Gautam-led drama Haq.
Siddhant Makkar, Chairperson of the SWA Awards 2026, revealed that the jury rigorously evaluated nearly 700 songs, over 80 television shows, close to 100 web series, and over 130 feature films to determine this year's winners.
In the highly competitive Web Drama segment, three distinct titles split the top honors. Smita Singh was awarded Best Story for the atmospheric horror drama Khauf. Best Screenplay went to the writing team of Sudip Sharma, Abhishek Banerjee, Rahul Kanojia, and Tamal Sen for Paatal Lok - Season 2, while Satyanshu Singh and Arkesh Ajay secured the Best Dialogue honor for Black Warrant.
In the lyrics categories, Anvita Dutt won Best Lyrics (TV/Web) for the track 'Naseeba' from Black Warrant. Legendary poet and lyricist Gulzar was honored with Best Lyrics (Feature Film) for his work on the track 'Hum Fanaa' from Gustaakh Ishq. In Gulzar's absence, the trophy was accepted on his behalf by acclaimed filmmaker-composer Vishal Bhardwaj, who also scored the track.
The coveted Feature Film - Best Debut director/writer honor was adjudged to Aranya Sahay for the thought-provoking narrative Humans in the Loop.
Concluding the evening on a note of institutional solidarity, Charudutt Acharya, President of SWA, said, "Things are getting difficult in the industry and times are not the best right now. But as a union, we are here for you all the time."
The full list of winners:
1. Winner for Feature Film - Best Debut is Aranya Sahay for Humans in the Loop.
2. Winner for Web Drama - Best Story is Smita Singh for Khauf
3. Winners for Web Drama - Best Screenplay are Sudip Sharma, Abhishek Banerjee, Rahul Kanojia & Tamal Sen for Paatal Lok - Season 2
4. Winners for Web Drama - Best Dialogues are Satyanshu Singh, Arkesh Ajay for Black Warrant
5. Winners for Television - Best Story are Rajesh Joshi and Shabia Walia for Pushpa Impossible
6. Winner for Television - Best Screenplay is Harneet Singh for Itti Si Khushi
7. Winners for Television - Best Dialogue are Sneha Desai and Tushar Ishwer for Pushpa Impossible
8. Winners for Web Comedy/Musical/Romance-Best Story are Chirag Garg and Avinash Dwivedi for Dupahiya
9. Winners for Web Comedy/Musical/Romance-Best Screenplay are Aryan Khan, Bilal Siddiqi, Manav Chauhan for The Ba***ds of Bollywood
10. Winner for Web Comedy/Musical/Romance-Best Dialogue is Aryan Khan for The Ba***ds of Bollywood
11. Winner for TV/Web - Best Lyrics is Anvita Dutt for Naseeba from Black Warrant
12. Winner for Feature Film - Best Lyrics is Gulzar for Hum Fanaa from Gustaakh Ishq
13. Winners for Feature Film - Best Story are Karan Tejpal, Gaurav Dhingra, Swapnil Salkar "Agadbumb" for Stolen
14. Winners for Feature Film - Best Screenplay are Karan Tejpal, Gaurav Dhingra, Swapnil Salkar "Agadbumb" for Stolen
15. Winner for Feature Film - Best Dialogue is Reshu Nath for Haq