Nikhil Mahapatra is a multi-disciplinary writer based in Brooklyn. They are a fan of low-quality jokes and high-quality food, hold a staunch and likely incorrect belief that most literature could be improved by the addition of dragons, and have been known to make a very good omelet. Their written work draws on queerness and race sometimes, power and love often,  but most of all encircles the place where grief and joy meet together, which, as one audience member once said, had “mixed results, but I guess I liked it”.

They are a 2019 Dramatists Guild Foundation Fellow, a 2020 & 2021 O'Neill National Playwright's Conference Finalist, 2021 SPACE at Ryder Farm Creative Resident, 2023 Yaddo Resident, 2023 Clubbed Thumb Early Career Writers Group member, a finalist for Soho Rep Writer’s/Director’s Lab, The Civillians R&D Group, Pipeline Playlab. Signature Theatre Launchpad Residency and more. Their work has been showcased at Bucks County Playhouse, The Road theater company, Living Room Playlabs, Gingold Theatre Company, The Tank, Cherry Lane Theatre, The Brick, The Wild Project and more. Latest theatrical works include Bridge Play, LOVE YOU MORE, SAVAGE GARDEN, SWEETFISH!, American Hunger, CARNAL, Lost in the Fire, The Fields, Bali Babes and an untold amount of other things of questionable quality. Other media includes the short film SPF (NYITFF 2019), and select short stories and poems published in America and Singapore.