Abhijat Joshi

Biography:

Abhijat Joshi, an accomplished Indian screenwriter, film director, producer, and editor in the Hindi cinema, is widely recognized for his collaborative work with Vinod Chopra Productions and director Rajkumar Hirani. He has notably contributed as the screenwriter for several successful films, including “Lage Raho Munna Bhai” (2006), “3 Idiots” (2009), “PK” (2014), and “Sanju” (2018). In addition to his filmmaking career, Joshi has been a professor of English at Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio, since 2003.

Joshi’s early life saw him growing up in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, within a family of educators, with his father, Jayant Joshi, also being a professor. He pursued his higher education at Gujarat University, where he excelled in his studies, particularly in English. Subsequently, he earned his Master of Fine Arts degree from the Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas at Austin. Besides English, Joshi is fluent in Gujarati, owing to his upbringing in a Gujarati-speaking environment.

Before venturing into the world of cinema, Joshi briefly worked as a professor of English at C.U. Shah Arts College in Ahmedabad. His love for storytelling and theatre was evident from an early age, and he actively participated in Gujarati drama competitions during his school years. One of his notable works, “A Shaft of Sunlight,” was produced during the 1992 Gujarat riots and garnered critical acclaim. It was during this time that he crossed paths with director Vidhu Vinod Chopra, leading to their collaboration on films like “Kareeb” and “Mission Kashmir.”

Joshi’s writing is deeply influenced by the philosophical concepts of dharma, as espoused by Sane Guruji, a renowned Marathi social reformer. His father, a scholar in Sane Guruji’s teachings, introduced him to these profound ideas, which have significantly shaped his storytelling.

In his personal life, Abhijat Joshi resides in central Ohio, where he combines his passion for teaching with his writing career at Otterbein University. He is a married man with a daughter. His younger brother, Saumya Joshi, is also involved in the film industry as a playwright and screenwriter, known for works like “OMG – Oh My God!” and “102 Not Out.”

In 2016, Joshi underwent brain surgery at Mumbai’s Hinduja Hospital, performed by renowned neurosurgeon B. K. Misra, marking a challenging chapter in his personal journey.