1. Overview
Sabrina Dhawan is an acclaimed Indian screenwriter and producer. Born in England and raised in Delhi, India, she has significantly contributed to both Bollywood and international cinema. She is widely recognized for her screenwriting on the critically acclaimed 2001 film, Monsoon Wedding, which was pivotal in launching her career. Beyond her film work, Dhawan holds a prominent academic position as a Professor and the area head of screenwriting at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, and she actively teaches at filmmaking labs worldwide. Her career reflects a strong engagement with diverse narratives and global storytelling, showcasing her versatility across various creative roles in film and television.
2. Early Life and Education
Sabrina Dhawan was born in England and spent her formative years growing up in Delhi, India. For her elementary education, Dhawan attended two notable institutions in Delhi: the Convent of Jesus and Mary and the Delhi Public School. She then pursued her higher education, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hindu College in Delhi. Furthering her academic pursuits, she moved to the United Kingdom to study at Leicester University, where she earned a Master of Arts in Communications Research. Subsequently, Dhawan relocated to New York City, where she joined Columbia University's Graduate Film Program. She successfully completed her studies there in 2001, graduating with a Master of Fine Arts in Film. During the final years of her MFA program, in 2000, she created her student short film, (Saanjh) As Night Falls, which gained notable success upon its release.
3. Career
Sabrina Dhawan's professional career began almost immediately following her graduation from Columbia University in 2001, coinciding with the release of her breakthrough film, Monsoon Wedding. Her ability to craft compelling narratives quickly established her presence in the film industry.
3.1. Early Career and Breakthrough
One of Sabrina Dhawan's earliest and most impactful works was her student short film, (Saanjh) As Night Falls. Released in 2000, while she was still completing her Master of Fine Arts at Columbia University, this film achieved significant success. It was honored as the Best of the Festival at the Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films. Additionally, it received the Audience Award at the Angelus Awards and was recognized as the "Most Original Film" by New Line Cinema at the Polo Ralph Lauren New Works Festival in 2000.
The year 2001 marked a pivotal moment in Dhawan's career with the release of Monsoon Wedding, a film directed by Mira Nair. Dhawan wrote the initial draft of the screenplay for Monsoon Wedding in approximately one week while still a student. The script was notable for its multilingual nature, seamlessly integrating Hindi, Punjabi, and English. The film premiered in the Marché du Film section of the 2001 Cannes Film Festival and garnered several award nominations, including a Golden Globe Award. This project was instrumental in launching her screenwriting career, establishing her as a significant voice in contemporary cinema.
3.2. Film and Television Work
Following the success of Monsoon Wedding, Sabrina Dhawan continued her collaboration with director Mira Nair, serving as Nair's assistant at Columbia University in the early 2000s. In 2002, Dhawan wrote the "India" segment for the film 11'09"01 September 11, a series of short films produced for StudioCanal.
Her extensive work as a screenwriter and producer spans various feature films and television series. In 2003, she wrote for the television film Cosmopolitan. From 2004, she contributed as a writer for two episodes of the TV documentary series Independent Lens. In 2009, Dhawan took on a co-producer role for the first three episodes of the television series Bollywood Hero. She further showcased her screenwriting talent in Bollywood with films such as Kaminey (2009) and Ishqiya (2010). In 2011, she wrote the documentary Bollywood: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told. She served as a script consultant for the 2013 film Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola. In 2016, she co-wrote the film Rangoon alongside Vishal Bharadwaj and Matthew Robbins. Throughout her career, Dhawan has been commissioned to write for major companies, including Disney, HBO, ABC Family, and 20th Century Fox. She also made a brief acting cameo as a wedding guest in Monsoon Wedding.
3.3. Stage Adaptations and Other Projects
Sabrina Dhawan's creative endeavors extend beyond film and television into stage adaptations. In 2017, she collaborated with director Mira Nair once again to create a stage adaptation of their successful film, Monsoon Wedding. This theatrical production was staged at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre in California, bringing the beloved story to a new medium and audience.
3.4. Academic and Teaching Career
In addition to her prolific work in the film industry, Sabrina Dhawan holds a distinguished position in academia. She is a Professor and currently serves as the area head of screenwriting at the prestigious Tisch School of the Arts at New York University (NYU). In this role, she is instrumental in shaping the next generation of screenwriters. Beyond her responsibilities at NYU, Dhawan is also actively involved in teaching at filmmaking labs across the globe, sharing her expertise and insights with aspiring filmmakers internationally.
4. Personal Life
In 2006, Sabrina Dhawan married Steve Cohen, a screenwriter known for penning the 1999 film The Bachelor, which starred Chris O'Donnell and Renée Zellweger. Tragically, Cohen passed away on September 29, 2012. As of 2016, Sabrina Dhawan resided in New York City with their son, Kabir.
5. Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Genre |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | (Saanjh) As Night Falls | Writer/Director | Fiction Short |
| 2001 | Monsoon Wedding | Writer | Fiction (Film) |
| 2002 | 11'09"01 September 11 ("India") | Writer | Fiction Short |
| 2003 | Cosmopolitan | Writer | Fiction (TV) |
| 2004 | Independent Lens | Writer (2 episodes) | TV documentary |
| 2009 | Kaminey | Writer | Fiction (Film) |
| 2010 | Ishqiya | Writer | Fiction (Film) |
| 2011 | Bollywood: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told | Writer | Documentary |
| 2013 | Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola | Script Consultant | Fiction |
| 2016 | Rangoon | Writer | Fiction (Film) |
6. Awards and Nominations
| Year | Festival/Institution | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films | Best of the Festival | (Saanjh) As Night Falls | Won |
| 2001 | Venice Film Festival | Golden Lion | Monsoon Wedding | Won |
| 2002 | Venice Film Festival | Best Short Film | 11'09"01 September 11 | Won |
| 2002 | Venice Film Festival | UNESCO Award | 11'09"01 September 11 | Won |
| 2002 | Zee Cine Awards | Special Award for International Cinema | Monsoon Wedding | Won |
| 2002 | Golden Globe | Best Foreign Language Film | Monsoon Wedding | Nominated |
| 2002 | BAFTA Awards | Best Film Not in the English Language | Monsoon Wedding | Nominated |
| 2002 | Awards Circuit Community Awards | Best Foreign Language Film | Monsoon Wedding | Nominated |
| 2002 | British Independent Film Awards | Best Foreign Independent Film - Foreign Language | Monsoon Wedding | Won |
| 2003 | Golden Satellite Awards | Best Motion Picture, Foreign Language | Monsoon Wedding | Nominated |
| 2003 | César Awards (France) | Best European Union Film | 11'09"01 September 11 | Nominated |
| 2003 | National Board of Review (US) | Freedom of Expression Award | 11'09"01 September 11 | Won |
| 2004 | Director's View Film Festival | Feature Documentary | Independent Lens | Won |
| 2004 | San Diego Film Festival | Best Short Film | Independent Lens | Won |
| 2004 | Toronto ReelWorld Film Festival | Best International Short Film | Independent Lens | Won |
| 2010 | Filmfare Awards | Best Film | Kaminey | Nominated |
| 2010 | International Indian Film Academy Awards | Best Picture | Kaminey | Nominated |
| 2011 | International Indian Film Academy Awards | Best Screenplay | Ishqiya | Nominated |
| 2011 | International Indian Film Academy Awards | Best Dialogue | Ishqiya | Won |