Tracing Mithila Gupta’s lyrical journey through stories of love, identity, and cultural wholeness.
With credits that span continents and genres—from Neighbours to The Heights, The Unlisted to Doctor Doctor, and the uproariously successful Four Years Later—Mithila Gupta has carved a singular voice in contemporary screenwriting.
Her work pulses with authenticity, humour, and emotional truth. Whether she's crafting heartfelt comedy (Desi Down Under for Audible India) or pioneering South Asian visibility on mainstream TV (Bump, Five Bedrooms, The Unlisted), Gupta brings the full weight of lived experience to every project.
As Four Years Later continues its award run—most recently winning the Bronze Laurel at the New York Film Festival TV & Film Awards—we sat down with the powerhouse writer to talk about identity, truth, and the stories that shape us.
Q. Which formative childhood memory, in Jaipur or in Melbourne, first ignited your passion for storytelling?
A. It’s been a series of memories in Melbourne—being only 4 years old when we moved from Jaipur, I’ve grown up watching Hindi cinema. This was my main access to my culture and the reason I can still speak fluent Hindi. I used to swoon over SRK movies in particular. They not only entertained, but they also made me feel like I was a part of something. These films brought me so much joy and pride that they distilled this burning desire in me to create stories that will make others swoon and feel seen too.
Q. Growing up across two cultures, what lasting lesson most shapes your storytelling today?
A. That it’s important to be truthful. I think this is why people say, “write what you know.” It can be damaging to guess or glorify when it comes to cultural representation. It’s important to dig deep and write from the heart, even though it can be scary at times.
Q. From introducing the Kapoor family on Neighbours to creating Four Years Later, what single thread connects those milestones in your career?
A. A desire to tell South Asian stories for a global audience. This passion comes from a deep longing to see nuanced Indian-Aussie stories as an audience member myself… With these stories out in the world, I hope many storytellers like me will get the opportunity to do the same!
Mithila Gupta with actor Aksh Ajit Singh on set in Mumbai
Q. Four Years Later received an AACTA nomination, yet awards aside, which on-set memory will you treasure most?
A. Being on set across India and Australia was a dream come true on so many levels!! It was so cool to shoot in India and speak to crew members in Hindi. And then so cool to bring Shahana and Akshay over to Aus and share that experience with them. I was worried I would feel like an imposter, but I truly felt like I belonged in both places through my work. This is a feeling and identity shift that will stay with me forever. I’m not half Indian and half Australian… I am allowed to be whole in both places.
Q. Yash’s panic attacks place South-Asian male mental health in the spotlight. Why was including this theme non-negotiable for you, and how have viewers responded.
A. Sridevi’s character has a lot of depth because I identify with her so deeply. I wanted to make sure we do justice to Yash too and give him a story that highlights the truth of his experience. With all the pressure on him, being away from home, the responsibility of his family’s future on these shoulders, how could he not suffer from anxiety?! But we often don’t tell this side of the story—what’s behind the hard work and achievements. With writer Shakthi Shakthidharan attached, we dug deep into Yash’s psyche in the writer’s room. It was so exciting to get into the specificity of Yash’s immigrant experience. The audience response has been hugely heartening. Many people have reached out directly to say the story resonated and helped them feel seen.
Q. You now mentor emerging writers and adapt works such as Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens. What is the one piece of advice you always give about keeping culturally specific stories universal?
A. I believe specific stories are, at their core, universal. We have more in common than what sets us apart. So, tell your story and tell it with truth. It will resonate.
Mithila Gupta’s writing reminds us that culture doesn’t confine—it connects. It defies borders, creating a space where identity is not split, but shared uniting characters. Her stories breathe life into the in-between spaces—between countries, generations, and expectations—offering a rare kind of magic that comes from deep personal truth.
In an industry saturated with content, Mithila offers something far more enduring: emotional honesty, cultural nuance, and stories that don’t just entertain, but invite us to feel, reflect, and belong. Her voice is a bridge between worlds, and through it, we are reminded that the most powerful stories are often the most personal ones--told with courage, care, and heart.
By Nandita Chakraborty
