Editing Khwaja Ahmad Abbas (section)

=== Cinema ===
Meanwhile, he had started writing scripts for other directors, {{Lang|hi-latn|[[Neecha Nagar]]}} for Chetan Anand and {{Lang|hi-latn|[[Dr. Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani]]}} for V. Shantaram.

In 1945, he made his directorial debut with a film based on the [[Bengal famine of 1943]], {{Lang|hi-latn|[[Dharti Ke Lal]]}} (''Children of the Earth''), for the [[Indian People's Theatre Association]] ([[Indian People's Theatre Association|IPTA]]).{{sfn|Rajadhyaksha|1999|p=39}} In 1951, he founded his own production company called Naya Sansar,{{sfn|Rajadhyaksha|1999|p=39}} which consistently produced films that were socially relevant including, ''Anhonee'', ''Munna'', ''Rahi'' (1953), based on a [[Mulk Raj Anand]] story, was on the plight of workers on tea plantations, the [[National Film Award (India)|National Film Award]] winner, ''[[Shehar Aur Sapna]]'' (1964) and ''[[Saat Hindustani]]'' (1969), which won the [[Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration]] and is also remembered as [[Bollywood]] icon [[Amitabh Bachchan]]'s debut film.
He wrote the story and screenplay for the controversial themed film in 1974 [[Call Girl (1974 film)|''Call Girl'']] directed by Vijay Kapoor, starring Vikram and Zahera.

He went on to write scripts for ''[[Jagte Raho]]'' and prominent [[Raj Kapoor]] films including ''[[Awaara]], [[Shri 420]], [[Mera Naam Joker]], [[Bobby (1973 film)|Bobby]]'' and ''[[Henna (film)|Henna]]''.{{sfn|Rajadhyaksha|1999|p=39}}