Ekta Kapoor's birthday wish for Mushtaq Sheikh: 'You're the reason this Babli is badmaaash'
Synopsis
Ekta Kapoor's playful Instagram tribute to screenwriter Mushtaq Sheikh — set to Babli Badmaash and packed with inside humour — is a rare, candid glimpse into Bollywood's behind-the-scenes friendships. For a producer who rarely steps out of the spotlight voluntarily, the post doubles as a warm endorsement of one of Hindi cinema's more underrated writing talents.
Key Takeaways
Ekta Kapoor posted a birthday video montage for screenwriter Mushtaq Sheikh on Instagram .
The post featured the song Babli Badmaash from the 2013 film Shootout at Wadala .
Sheikh's credits include Ra.One , Om Shanti Om , Billu , and the 2025 film Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat .
Ekta is the founder of Balaji Telefilms Limited and was honoured with the Padma Shri in 2020 .
She is currently working on the seventh season of the supernatural series Naagin .
TV producer and Balaji Telefilms founder Ekta Kapoor has shared a heartfelt yet humorous birthday tribute for screenwriter Mushtaq Sheikh on Instagram, calling him the force behind her mischievous streak. Sheikh is best known for penning screenplays for blockbusters including Ra.One, Om Shanti Om, and Billu.
The Birthday Post
Ekta shared a video montage featuring herself, Mushtaq, and a close circle of friends, set to the peppy track Babli Badmaash from the 2013 film Shootout at Wadala. Her caption read:
Point of View
And this one is no different — but it also quietly spotlights Mushtaq Sheikh, a writer whose contributions to some of Hindi cinema's biggest commercial hits have often been overshadowed by the films' stars and directors. Sheikh's pivot from big-screen blockbusters to web series and short horror films reflects a broader industry shift toward streaming. Meanwhile, Ekta's own slate — spanning Naagin Season 7, Vvan, and Bhoot Bangla — suggests she remains one of the few producers who can straddle television, OTT, and theatrical releases simultaneously, a balancing act few in the industry have managed as consistently.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Mushtaq Sheikh and what has he written?
Mushtaq Sheikh is a Bollywood screenwriter known for films such as Ra.One, Om Shanti Om, and Billu. More recently, he wrote the 2025 film Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat starring Harshvardhan Rane and Sonam Bajwa, and presented and wrote the 2024 short horror film Happy Ending.
What did Ekta Kapoor post for Mushtaq Sheikh's birthday?
Ekta Kapoor shared a video montage on Instagram featuring herself, Mushtaq Sheikh, and friends, set to the song Babli Badmaash from the 2013 film Shootout at Wadala. Her caption affectionately credited him as the reason she is 'badmaaash'.
What is Shootout at Wadala about?
Shootout at Wadala is a 2013 action-crime film starring John Abraham, Anil Kapoor, Manoj Bajpayee, and Kangana Ranaut, among others. It dramatises the encounter in which gangster Manya Surve was shot dead by the Bombay police, based on the book Dongri to Dubai: Six Decades of the Mumbai Mafia by Hussain Zaidi.
What awards has Ekta Kapoor received?
Ekta Kapoor was honoured with the Padma Shri in 2020. She also received the 2023 International Emmy Directorate Award at the 51st International Emmy Awards, recognising her contributions to the entertainment industry.
What projects is Ekta Kapoor currently working on?
Ekta Kapoor is currently working on the seventh season of her long-running supernatural series Naagin. She is also producing Bhoot Bangla featuring Akshay Kumar, Vrusshabha starring Mohanlal, and Vvan with Sidharth Malhotra and Tamannaah Bhatia.
