Salim Arif is an alumnus of National School of Drama, New Delhi. In theatre, he has several production oriented workshops to his credit in a number of places in India. He was awarded a NSD fellowship to work on the subject of Interaction between Traditional and contemporary Indian theatre with reference to the works of Habib Tanvir, B.V.Karanth, Ratan Thiyam and K.N.Panikker.
Innovative in approach , exploring new contents for staging, his Taj Mahal Ka Tender, Kaifi Saab, Ghalibnaama, Kharaashein, Peele Patton Ka Ban , Dil Chahta Hai , Shyam Rang, Agar Aur Magar, Bayaane Ghalib, Rakt Kalyan, Parwaaze Bayaan Aur, Kachche Lamhe,Lakeerein,Hum Suffer and Aapki Soniya has made him one of the most exciting and popular director on Hindi theatre scene in India. His critically acclaimed play Aap Ki Sonia has been performed extensively in India and abroad. His path breaking Kharaashein and Ghalibnaama were showcased by Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan, New York at Lincoln Center, NY in 2004.
Some important plays designed by him are Ismat Apa Ke Naam,Shyam Rang, Mrigtrishna, Jisne Lahore Nahin Vekhya and Madhyamvyayoga.
He has been a Theatre Critic for Mid-Day, New Delhi, wrote articles and reviews for Free Press Journal, Mumbai on Theatre and films and is currently a regular contributor to Hardnews, a magazine published from New Delhi since 2003.
Currently working as head of Production Design in Whistling Woods International, Mumbai, he is also on the visiting faculty of several prestigious institutions including National School of Drama, New Delhi, Film and Television Institute of India,Pune, BNA, Lucknow, National Institute of Fashion Technology, Mumbai and National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad.
He made his mark as a Designer of substance in television and films with Shyam Benegal’s Bharat Ek Khoj,Gulzar’s Mirza Ghalib,Dr.Chandraprakash Dwedi’s Chanakya and Nirja Guleri’s Chandrakanta .
His important films as a designer are Ketan Mehta’s Sardar Patel,Gulzar’s Maachis & Hu-Tu-Tu , Govind Nihalani’s Takshak and Anil Sharma’s Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Saathiyo. He has been a consultant for period details in Anil Sharma’s Gadar and Mani Ratnam’s Guru. He was commissioned by Encyclopaedia Britannica (India) to do an appraisal on Costumes in Hindi Cinema titled The Essence and Fabric for Encyclopaedia of Hindi Cinema published in 2003.
He is a recipient of the prestigious Bhartendu Harishchandra Award of U.P.Hindi Urdu Adab Society for his contribution in putting literary works on stage.