Actor-author Manav Kaul’s eighth book, titled Shirt Ka Teesra Button, hit the stands recently. The novel, which is based on a young boy, takes one back to their childhood days. Talking about it, Kaul says, “It is about a boy growing up in a village, who’s in the sixth grade. It encapsulates his journey, childhood and memories, and his first idea of literature. This idea of a kid experiencing so many things for the first time mesmerized me.”

The book has earned positive response from bibliophiles, many of who sent in handwritten notes of appreciation to Kaul. He tells us that it’s always special to hear people talk about his books rather than his films or web shows. “I have been receiving a lot of attention for The Fame Game and Ajeeb Daastaans (2021). But the [number of] people reading my books are way lesser. Jo cheezein kam hoti hain, woh aapko zyaada pasand aati hain. I truly cherish it when someone comes to me and says that they have enjoyed reading a book written by me or a play directed by me,” he says.

The Nail Polish (2021) actor often takes off to quiet places, as they help keep him grounded and write more. “I like to meet people who aren’t part of the industry such as actors, writers, directors and fans. When I travel, I meet so many interesting people who do amazing things like running a bakery or coffee shop in a tiny nook of the mountains,” he shares.

For Kaul, there’s more to life that just a film set. “Life is so much more than just being famous. The perspective of life we have has always been very lopsided and it’s getting narrower by the day. So, I like knowing about other people’s lives,” he ends.