Highest paid writer?

It's not just actors and directors who are raking in the moolah in Bollywood. Writers (hallelujah finally!) are licking cream too. Remember Shibani Bhatija, the one who wrote the commercial blockbusters but critically panned Fanaa and Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna? Well, she has become the first writer to crack a multi crore deal. Shibani has been signed up by Indian Film Co (aka Studio 18) for a three film deal for an amount Rs 2.25 crores! The movies will be written over a two year period.

Bhatija is often seen grinning ear to ear these days, flying business class to LA (where she is penning friend Karan Johar's Khan). Her next release is Sanjay Gadhvi's Kidnap.

When a blockbuster director-producer heard the amount Shibani has been signed he almost choked over his coffee. He then called up another corporate and found out that the reason writers like Shibani are being offered such high amount is because it boosts valuation of a project. Instead of paying a writer 30 lakh to make a 25 crore project, it is better to pay 90 lakh and transform it into a 60 cr project!

Lets hope the bubble doesn't burst soon!