“This is my most challenging book”

Best-selling author, speaker, columnist and according to his detractors — an armchair activist on Twitter, has haters and followers alike! Handling ordinary plots, characters and dialogues, Bhagat laces it with his characteristic wit and infuses enough sentiments and romance in it to top the best-sellers' list for years one end! The author of six blockbuster novels — Five Point Someone (2004), One Night@the Call Center (2005), The 3 Mistakes of my life (2008), 2 States (2009), Revolution 2020 (2011) and What Young India Wants (2012) is excited at the grand opening and sustained accolades his newest screen adaptation of Two States has received. The author that has caught the imagination of the nation, talks to Swati Rai about love, life and a whole lot more!

Media and market-savvy Bhagat's books have remained bestsellers since their release, and have been adapted into major Bollywood films. The New York Times called him the "the biggest selling English language novelist in India's history" Time magazine named him in the "100 Most Influential People in the World" and Fast Company, USA, listed him as one of the world's "100 most creative people in business."

This social media-savvy author who balances many tags — that of a writer, political and social commentator and has more than 2 million "followers" (and counting) on twitter receives accolades and trolls alike is patient in handling both. Whatever be his current state of mind is reflected on his twitter handle that he handles in with his nimble wit and characteristic sense of humour!

It has been a long wait for your next book since What Young India Wants came out in 2012. Tell us bit about your new book.

I am currently working on a non-fiction that surprisingly has a rural backdrop. Though it is too early for me to comment on the plot and characters of the book that will be out this October, yet I can safely say that this has been the most challenging book to write due to an alien context. Having said that, I have done a thorough research of the setting and characters and travelled a lot to lend authenticity to the novel.

Don't you think setting your new book in a rural area, you stand to lose your urban
youth market?

I am conscious of my young urban readers and though the book has a rural setting and explores the dynamics of relationship in such a setting yet, I do have my core readers in India and the book will cater to everyone's tastes.

Any chance of writing a book in Hindi, considering the rural backdrop?

All my books have been translated into many Indian and foreign languages.Hmm…though in all honesty, I don't think I have the required proficiency in Hindi to write a book in the language and convey the intended flavour.

All your books have been adapted for the big screen, and you have also written the screen play of many of them. What are you currently working on as a screenplay writer.

Nothing compares to the high of writing a book. I have to admit that writing a screenplay is time consuming though enjoyable and my latest book got delayed due to the commitment to them. Currently I am devoting my time to writing my book. Apart from that I have also written the screenplay of Salman Khan-starrer Kick!

As writer, when your books are adapted for the big screen what are some aspects of the story that you consider sacrosanct?

I think it has to be the characters and from where they are coming is sacrosanct for me and nothing can literally be out of character in that.

Your columns and political commentary is confusing for the reader as your support to a particular party is unclear.

Good! It should stay that way! Jokes apart, I am in favour of a person whoever does good work and governance irrespective of the political party he or she belongs to. I am a supporter of good policies
and purpose. I am not on any one side; I am with a person who does good work.

As parting shot, what would be your advice to the youth of this country?

I urge the youth to find their voice and not be afraid to voice their opinions, being one and saying what one believes takes a lot of courage and that's what makes life worth living.

HOME