Nikhil 'Nik' Jayaram: Writer for Television & Film

Great news! The South Asian-themed romcom feature film that Nikhil wrote for Hallmark is going into production! And while the title isn’t finalized (thus, no sharing), we can expect it to air this summer on the Hallmark Channel, amid other possible outlets. This very well may be the first film for Hallmark with South Asian stories and themes, and it’s going to be a milestone (and certainly not the last). Kudos to them for being bold and expanding everyone’s horizons. More to come!

STAR TREK: PRODIGY earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Animated Series. Nikhil is really proud of his writing contributions and the whole team’s fantastic work on Season One, and more noms are likely to follow.

Nikhil’s working with Hallmark on a romantic comedy feature with a South Asian twist. The details are under wraps for now, but he’s very excited for this chance to bring something to the screen he would have never seen in years prior.

Nikhil may primarily be a drama writer, but he can still bring the laughs. For his standup presence, check him out on Instagram: @nikhilsjayaram. Enjoy!

Nikhil’s serving as a script consultant on a television pilot written by New Zealand-based scribes Chye-Ling Huang and Natasha Daniel. Dealing with the drama and hilarity of immigrant parents and their children as they work through their complicated feelings and their larger human shortcomings, Nikhil’s happy to be a part of it!

Nikhil is proud to report that he’s founded the South Asian Writers Committee (SAWC), a group composed entirely of Writers Guild of America (WGA) scribes with roots in the countries that comprise South Asia. Given our impressive numbers, and the fact that we are clearly a distinct group with unique experiences and needs that can only be met with our own committee, this felt like a long-overdue move. We already have over 100 members, and that number is growing. We’re holding panels, seminars, and other events with high-level writers and players across the industry for the betterment and advancement of our constituents. And most importantly, we’re pushing for visibility, which will lead to opportunity, all while we foster community. While our first attempt to exist within the WGA did not come to fruition, our goal is to have the WGA Board vote us in as a formal committee, on equal footing with the other much-needed diversity, equity, and inclusion groups. Any South Asian WGA writers who are interested in joining the SAWC, please reach out!

Nikhil is thrilled to share that he’s now a Producer-level writer on new Netflix show THE HENNA ARTIST, based on the bestselling book of the same name.  This is a tremendous opportunity to create a series with Indian culture at its center while still being for a global audience.  Be sure and watch it when it’s on the streamer!

Nikhil’s taken on an interesting opportunity: consulting on the screenwriting process of a feature film.  Written by New Zealand-based scribe Chye-Ling Huang, this romantic comedy boasts leads of varying cultural and ethnic backgrounds, and Nikhil is excited to assist in bringing it to life.  The project is funded by a grant from the government of New Zealand.

Nikhil is elated to join the writing staff of a new Netflix drama series as a Co-Producer. The currently-untitled show centers on an Asian American family, and he knows this will be an important and rewarding experience and groundbreaking television!

Nikhil can finally announce it: he’s joined the staff of the new series STAR TREK: PRODIGY for Nickelodeon and Paramount+.  Working on this show and with such talented scribes, for a global and engaged audience, is a rare treat, and he’s grateful and enjoying the ride! (Don’t worry legal departments, this post was only updated with the show title after it was revealed via the official press release!)

Nikhil is pleased to be speaking at a panel for aspiring Hollywood writers and more, with proceeds benefiting suicide prevention efforts.  Hosted by Erman Baradi on Saturday July 27, 2019, the panel is sure to be informative and a good time!

Nikhil is thrilled that Sony Pictures Television has purchased THE RADICAL, one of his TV pitches, as part of his blind script deal.  Here’s hoping it goes all the way to series!

Nikhil is thrilled to join the writing staff of a new Netflix show as a Co-Producer.  While he can’t (yet) reveal the studio or show, it’s an exciting opportunity with talented writers, and Nik looks forward to making the most of it.

It was Nikhil’s pleasure to be among the successful panelists at tonight’s forum, co-hosted by NBC’s Asian Pacific Americans (APA) group and OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates.  Featuring television writers from varying career backgrounds and at different stages in their journeys, the questions and answers were revealing, honest, bracing, and hopefully helpful for any aspiring scribes in the audience.

It’s with great pleasure that Nik has signed a script deal with Sony Pictures Television.  Under the guaranteed deal, Nikhil will develop a series pitch for Sony and take it to networks in 2019 (in addition to the separate pitch he and Sony have already developed and will take out).  This is a leap forward, and he’s excited to make the most of it!

Lovers of SHADES OF BLUE, mark your viewing calendars and check out NBC on Sunday, July 8 at 10PM, when episode 304 airs, co-written by Vincent Angell and yours truly.  Be sure to stay ’til the end — ’cause some of our characters might not. Or, they might. No spoilers here!

Nikhil’s pleased to speak at the University of Oklahoma to a film and media studies class.  He’ll share his journey and his take on breaking into television, and he’s happy to contribute his unique understanding and insight to the next generation of TV writers.

Nik’s flattered and eager to be part of a panel for CAPE’s New Writers Fellows this evening.  It’s through panels like this that the next generation learns and rises, and he benefited (and still benefits) from events like these.  CAPE is a great organization, and he’s happy he’s able to give back.

Great news – Nikhil’s now writing on NBC’s hit show SHADES OF BLUE.  He’s a Story Editor for the upcoming season and is pumped to get started.  It’s rare to work on a show you’re already a fan of, and that’s the case here.  Nik knows he’s going to contribute and learn a lot, and he’s grateful while up to the challenge.  More on episode air dates when we have them (fair warning: it’ll likely be 2018).

It’s with great pleasure that Nik can say he’s into the semifinals of this WGA-sponsored program, where his original pilot was vetted by high-level TV writers.  Another round of judging awaits before finalists are announced, and if there’s more good news, it’ll be posted here!