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He’s back
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Chetan Bhagat is convinced he has a good thing going in his latest novel ‘The Three Mistakes of My Life’, writes MINI ANTHIKAD-CHHIBBER
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Photo: Murali Kumar K.
On the silver screen Chetan Bhagat’s works are now being adapted
Chetan Bhagat, like another famous novelist insists he is not in the Shakespeare stakes. The other novelist was Ian Fleming and he created James Bond. Chetan is also responsible for a seismic shift in Indian writing in English.
With Five Point Someone, a coming-of-age novel set in IIT, Chetan opened the floodgates and soon the market was inundated with bildungsroman. Chetan followed Five Point Someone with One Night at the Call Centre. Chetan has moved back to India after 12 years in Hong Kong and continues with his day job as investment banker while putting final touches on his third novel, The Three Mistakes of my Life. Excerpts from an interview.
What is The Three Mistakes of My Life about?
Like the tagline says, it is about cricket, religion and business. While the book is more serious compared to my other two novels, the time-pass element is very much there. It is light treatment against a serious backdrop. The book tells the story of three boys in Gujarat who decide to start a sports shop.
Any particular reason for setting the novel in Gujarat?
Gujarat is the only State where businessmen are considered ideal husband material. Salaried people are looked down upon because they work for others. Also I felt I had to earn the title of youth writer. My earlier books have a cosmopolitan look and feel. The themes they tackle are also rather urban and elitist. I wanted to broaden my base and talk to youth across the country.
Considering you are tackling serious issues, are you nervous of the reception?
Actually I was more nervous about One Night… This book has a positive buzz. The advance reviews have been good. We have a 200,000 advance order. It is all happening. I am convinced we are onto a good thing.
What made you return to India?
The country has given me a lot and now it is time to give back. Yeah, living is easier in Hong Kong. Like just yesterday the maid had malaria. I thought all these diseases were eradicated. But that is perfect for a writer, there is so much fodder for further plots. The other thing is my three-year-old twin boys were the only brown skinned children talking in a Chinese accent which was quite freaky.
When are the books going to hit the screen?
I have written the script for Hello based on One Night… The film, directed by Atul Agnihotri, will star Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif. Rajkumar Hirani is making Idiot, inspired by Five Point Someone.
What is your take on film adaptations of books?
I write for passion unlike some writers who write for ego. For the screen adaptation, I have given the concerned people full freedom. Even Nikhila who adapted Five Point Someone for stage had complete freedom to do what she wanted. Idiot stars Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor. We all know Aamir does not take up rubbish projects and I respect Raju’s work. You should have confidence in the people who are putting Rs. 30 crore into a project. I do, and I am here to help.
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Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Mangalore
Puducherry
Tiruchirapalli
Thiruvananthapuram
Vijayawada
Visakhapatnam
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