‘Every Producer Knows the Value of a Writer’: Vaibhav Modi on OTT, Storytelling and the Changing Role of Writers

“Every producer knows the value of a writer.” That’s how writer, producer, lyricist and creative entrepreneur Vaibhav Modi summed up the changing conversation around writers in the Indian entertainment industry. With more than two decades of experience across media and entertainment, Modi has witnessed the industry evolve across television, films, reality formats and, more recently, OTT. In an exclusive interaction with us, he opened up about whether writers today are finally receiving the recognition they deserve.

Asked if writers in the film industry are given the same importance and recognition as actors and other artists, Modi said, “Within the industry, I have never met a producer or director who didn't understand the value of a writer. However, merely being a writer doesn't automatically entitle one to the same level of praise and acclaim that top-notch writers receive; everyone has their own journey.” According to him, understanding a writer’s importance and giving every writer equal recognition are two different things, with success and acclaim depending on an individual’s journey.

Modi also believes that the arrival of OTT has significantly expanded the opportunities available to writers. “It is certainly true that with the advent of OTT, there are more opportunities today. There is also greater awareness regarding how writers should be involved and celebrated. And those who do—the makers and platforms that invest in writers and look after them—reap the rewards,” he added. His observation comes from years of working across different formats and experiencing first-hand how the storytelling ecosystem has changed.

Modi, who is widely recognised as the creator, writer and producer of the acclaimed Zee5 spy-thriller series ‘Mukhbir: The Story of a Spy’, has himself worked across multiple storytelling formats. His portfolio also includes The Story for ZEE5, along with non-fiction and reality television formatting projects during his corporate career. His experience, therefore, gives him a unique perspective on how stories travel from one medium to another.

When asked about OTT, reality shows and films and whether he views storytelling differently depending on the format, Modi offered a broader perspective. “It depends on the platform and how times have evolved. If storytelling were bound by the medium, we probably wouldn't remember our grandmothers' stories today, right?” For him, the essence of storytelling remains independent of the format in which it is presented.

He elaborated, “Storytelling is an art that resides within you; you can employ it across any medium, format, or for any audience. However, there is one thing that remains certain... You need to have the ability to adapt; you must possess the skill to tailor the way you tell a story depending on whether your audience is a five-year-old child, a fifteen-year-old, or a twenty-five-year-old young adult—focusing on what truly resonates with them. You have to tell the story in a way that connects with them.”

Giving a simple example, Modi explained how the same storytelling instinct needs to be adapted according to the person listening. “For instance, if you speak to a young adult about love or their career, you will appeal to them more effectively; conversely, if you tell a child a story about kings, queens, or fairies, you will connect with them better. So, I don't think the medium itself is what matters.” His point is clear: technology and platforms may change, but the fundamental challenge for a storyteller remains the same—understanding the audience and finding a way to connect with them.

Beyond Mukhbir, Modi's creative journey has also extended into music and lyrics. He has contributed to the music and writing departments of projects including ‘Drona’ (2008) and has frequently taken on the role of lyricist for his own productions. He penned songs for the Mukhbir soundtrack, including “Hamse Toh Woh Behtar Hai,” while also working on tracks for independent projects. He additionally writes Hindi-Urdu poetry under his initials “VM.”

For someone who has spent more than two decades navigating the entertainment business, Modi's perspective ultimately comes down to one thing: good storytelling cannot be confined to a single platform. As OTT continues to create new spaces for writers and audiences become increasingly open to different kinds of narratives, the writer's role continues to evolve. And as Modi puts it, those who understand the value of writers—and give them the space to tell stories—are ultimately the ones who stand to benefit from it.

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