While celebrities turning authors is not a new trend, Indian publishing today is increasingly looking at children of stars to write the next bestseller
Urvashi Bahuguna (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 28, 2020)

Step through the doors of a bookstore in India today and chances are you will see a prominently displayed title or two by a celebrity. With the presence of a wildly popular film and television industry in the country, it is unsurprising that publishers seek out actors and stars for memoirs and the occasional work of fiction. But a less obvious publishing practice, we’ve seen of late, is the commissioning of books written by the children of celebrities.

Some recently published titles include Shweta Bachchan-Nanda’s collection of short stories, Paradise Towers, Aishwaryaa Rajnikant Dhanush’s Standing On An Apple Box: The Story of A Girl Among The Stars (right), Shaheen Bhatt’s I’ve Never been (Un) Happier, Soha Ali Khan’s The Perils of Being Moderately Famous and Esha Deol Takhtani’s Amma Mia: Stories, Advice and Recipes from One Mother to Another.

While publishing celebrities is not a particularly new phenomenon, Mirror spoke to a few publishing houses, industry veterans, book critics and writers to get a sense of why a name matters, what drives this trend and what place it may or may not have in our burgeoning reading culture.

Art of selling
“Most people assume publishers will publish anyone who has a famous name,” laments Gurveen Chadha, a senior commissioning editor at Penguin Random House India, “While celebrity books are an easy sell, it has to be a compelling story at the end of the day — whether written by a celebrity or non-celebrity. Of course, selling a celebrity book is a tad easier, but if there’s no story to tell in the first place, the book will eventually tank.” Diya Kar, a senior commissioning editor at Harper Collins India, agrees that the talent of the person in the limelight is what eventually draws publishers to these deals.

Shaheen Bhatt (daughter of filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt), who wrote a candid memoir about her struggle with depression, says she recognised that her privilege provided her with a platform. She felt compelled to use it to reduce the stigma around mental health. “When I first began talking about mental health publicly in articles and on social media, the response I got was far greater than anything I could have anticipated,” she shares. “I was flooded with hundreds of messages from people telling me that they were going through their own trials with mental health. I saw the difference sharing was making.” When Penguin approached her, she chose to go forward because a book could potentially reach far more people than a social media post. But I’ve Never Been (Un)happier wasn’t easy to write. She would work on it for a day before having to step away from it for several days because of the toll of “forcibly reliving bad memories”. Ultimately, she is glad she did it because she says she is “much more at ease” with herself and the world around her, “now that I have been able to lay my heart bare. There is nothing to hide anymore.” She was inspired by her father who never held anything back in his writing.

Esha Deol, who is the mother of two young daughters, intends her book to be a “helping hand” for new mothers. In what she describes as her “first clueless year of motherhood” she encountered surprises every day. As she overcame them, she realised she wanted to share her experience with other mothers. She wanted to convey that “if I am able to do all these things, so can you.” Writing in the middle of the night, she spent a year-and--a-half working on Amma Mia as she went through the pregnancy and birth of her second child. Experiencing the emotions of pregnancy and the early stages of being a mother all over again was really helpful as she wrote. She’s penned down everything she went through alongside recipes and advice, and she hopes Amma Mia is everything a new mother is looking for.

A number game
Shobhaa De, Mirror columnist and the author of multiple books, suggests that a significant social media presence is a key determinant in these publishing decisions. On Instagram, Soha Ali Khan has 2.3 million followers, Esha Deol has 1 million, Shweta Bachchan-Nanda has 3,40,000, Shaheen Bhatt has 2,32,000 and Aishwaryaa Dhanush has 1,68,000. On Twitter, Ali Khan has 2.1 million, Deol has 3,56,694, Bachchan-Nanda has 42,983 and Dhanush has 1.7 million. Referring to social media’s impact on sales, Chadha says: “I believe we tend to buy books that have already done the rounds on social media and there are very few readers visiting bookstores looking for new writers or a new book. Most come with their minds already made up.” But like Kar, she sees this as only one of many factors that help sales.

While sales numbers for these books were not disclosed by the publishers, sources within the industry are not convinced that each of these books necessarily turns a profit. A publishing house employee, who wishes to remain anonymous, says that in these cases, the investment from the publisher is substantial in terms of advances and marketing budget.

Kanishka Gupta, a literary agent and author, stresses that in addition to the above there are hidden costs for the publisher such as editorial trips to work with the celebrities, launches at top hotels and ghost writer fees, which are expenses they don’t normally encounter with other authors. With these steep costs in mind, he believes the profit margins may not be significant. Moreover, he has found in his experience of promoting books that there is no guaranteed correlation between social media following and book sales. He believes that the number of followers is less important than the quality of the celebrity’s content and the level of engagement of the followers.

Westland Books’ publisher Karthika V K believes that exceptional success stories within this genre keep publishers interested. She says, “It’s not as though every book written by a celeb becomes a hit, but there are enough success stories for us to know that the offtake from retail is quicker and more positive. Whether the celeb is connected to entertainment or politics or sport or self-help, there are existing channels of communication and marketing, which are already open and can be effectively leveraged.”

Aditya Mani Jha, a former commissioning editor at Penguin Random House and book critic, believes that even if each of these books is not profitable, a publishing house may take them on because they can risk “a small loss in the short-term so that they are in the good books of the celebrity whose family member wrote the thing and are well-placed to represent the ‘actual’ celebrity later”. The aforementioned anonymous employee also says that nepotism is a driving force where offspring of eminent personalities have easy rides to publication.

Some star power
Both De and Gupta see this publishing practice as an extension of society’s obsession with celebrities. Chadha appears to agree to an extent stating, “We’re a celebrity-obsessed country and there’s a vicarious thrill in reading about the lives of your favourite stars in books. It’s a sneak preview into their lives that you may otherwise not have access to. The interest in such books is massive and they generally tend to do well. In fact, some of the biggest bestsellers today tend to be celebrity books. It’s a very dependable publishing trend.”

According to Kar, the honour of being an author, and having a published book on the shelf, is what motivates celebrities to try their hand at writing. Chadha finds that for non-established names: “it’s a way to reinvent themselves, to use books as a medium to showcase a part of themselves with the world that they might not necessarily have otherwise.” Karthika imagines that “it’s a matter of legacy as well as brand extension, depending on where they are positioned in their careers.” De says, “Star kids have nothing to lose and a lot to gain by lending their names to books. They get invited to book fairs and literary festivals, where they even get mobbed.”

The question of quality is harder to assess. Gupta argues that both Bhatt and Ali Khan deserved to be published on the merit of their stories alone, though he qualifies this by saying that even good celebrity writers are often overrated. The quality of the books does affect sales, according to both Kar and Chadha, who state that in the long run, word-of-mouth endorsements and the book’s calibre are what sustain sales. Chadha further stresses that “a lot of these books are original, ambitious in scope and writing and really, really good.”

Meena Iyer (DNA; May 25, 2019)

It’s Karan Johar’s 47th birthday today. As reported by After Hrs earlier this week, the blockbuster filmmaker-cum-talk show host has flown to New York to celebrate his big day.

Before he took off, we got our fix of KJo’s magic and mantras. Charismatic as always, he addressed everything from midlife crisis to his anxieties with a candour that is rare and so welcome.

Over to Karan:

First things first, what are your thoughts on turning 47?
There was a point of time when I was very excited about turning 40. I thought it would be a new innings in my life, which in any case it was. So many exciting things have happened to me in my 40s. Like my company (Dharma Productions) has grown, my kids —  Roohi and Yash — came. It has been a new life with my babies; they have changed my 40s around. I thought there would be the advent of a love story. I put the message out into the Universe and it came true through my children. The love that I was seeking in terms of a relationship, which I never had, and the loneliness that I felt is gone. The decision to have my children has changed my 40s around and it has changed my mother’s 70s around. It has transformed the fulcrum of our existence. At 47, I have two emotions. One of excitement that I am heading towards the mid-point of my life. There is so much I have to achieve before I turn 50. And the second is anxiety. Sometimes, I feel I have lesser and lesser time with my babies with whom I have the best love story going on.

But do you have any thoughts about ageing too? 
There are some thoughts. When I started dressing in a certain way two years ago, I suddenly realised that what I was actually going through was a midlife crisis. I realised I was growing older, so suddenly a lot of colour came into my wardrobe. All the hipster clothes, which maybe I am too old for, came. I don’t care what others think. I am happy with the colours and designs. There are many thoughts in my head — fear, anxiety, excitement and acceptance of my midlife crisis.

However, no outward signs of your midlife crisis are showing?
Well, I just felt I should do everything that I have wanted to do. At a certain point in my life, I may not be able to pull some of this off. If I feel like pouting to my camera, I do just that. There is a lot of abandon. With wisdom comes abandon and there is a certain carefree spirit in my demeanour. I have accepted how I am and I’m not apologetic about it.


Karan Johar with his wax replica at Madame Tussauds in Singapore

Karan, the seven years since your 40th have seen many highs for you — your book (An Unsuitable Boy), your statue at Madame Tussauds, etc.
I feel fortunate that I have been given a platform to achieve my dreams (making the films I want) and also fulfill some of my hobbies. I have done everything that I love. I love fashion, so I have dabbled in it. I like the idea of being a talk show host and I have that going on for the last 14 years. I love walking on red carpets across the world and I have done that. I have always wanted to tell my story and I did that in my book. I was excited to be at Madame Tussauds because I said, ‘Heck, why not a filmmaker? Why do only actors have to have all the glory?’ I’m happy I’m there. Everything I have always wanted to do cinematically and in my hobbies, I have been able to do in my 40s. I feel blessed. It has opened my plethora of dreams and I feel happy that I achieved most. Now, I feel I have to create new dreams and set new benchmarks. I am hugely excited about what can come beyond this year, beyond 47.

Is there a part two to An Unsuitable Boy?
Yes, there is. I have spoken to Poonam Saxena (my co-author), Shobhaa De and my publisher at Penguin who were with me on my first book. I will definitely do another one. But not immediately. There is so much more to talk about, but I will wait a few years. As I expressed earlier, there’s a lot to address like my fears and anxieties. My babies, who have brought a new aura and energy into my life, will feature in part two of An Unsuitable Boy.

You have a new office closer to your home?
Yes, I do because that way I can spend more time with the babies. Besides this office in Andheri, I also have one in Bandra for my digital work. I have made some structural changes around my professional routine so that I can give my kids the maximum time. I am also blessed to have a mother who is completely hands on. She is there for me and my babies 24/7. This makes me feel peaceful and happy. Instead of making Roohi and Yash work around my schedule, I have been a good parent and worked my schedule around them. That way I can maximise my time around them.


His kids — Roohi and Yash (left) and his style is always on point

Is Roohi more possessive about you?
No. I am only trying to get her attention. I have to chase her to give me a hug and a kiss. On the other hand, each time my son spots me, he flashes a big smile and welcomes me with open arms. Only a parent can understand what that feels like. He gives me all the hugs and kisses I crave for. When I walk into the room, Yash runs into my arms. What happens in my heart at that time is something I cannot describe in words. Barring your own children, who else meets you with so much excitement? I’m always running behind Roohi, who is totally her grandmom’s girl. She calls my mother, ‘Mamma’. My son is interested in me and Roohi is interested in my mother. So, we have our balance right.

Finally, what’s with the grey showing at the temples? Is it deliberate?
No! It’s my hair colour that has let me down (laughs).


Karan with his mother Hiroo Johar and his twins, Yash and Roohi

The actor-director siblings have had chequered careers. While Ronit Roy has revived his film career, Rohit is hoping to build a new one behind the camera
Kunal Guha (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 30, 2017)

At present, the Roy brothers are in a “comfortable space”. Apart from being one of the biggest names in the television industry, Ronit has been praised for his performances in critically-acclaimed films such as Udaan, Ugly and Kaabil, while Rohit has refashioned himself as a filmmaker and will helm the next Sanjay Leela Bhansali production.

Growing up in Ahmedabad, Ronit had earned the moniker ‘Kumar Gaurav of Ahmedabad’ but Rohit remembers him as the most flamboyant man in town. “You need money for that. I was only an extrovert,” says Ronit, before he is corrected by Roy junior, “You can be Jackie Shroff from Teen Patti, so you can be flamboyant without money.” He also adds that his elder brother also had the reputation of being a “quintessential naughty boy”. “If I got into a scuffle in Ahmedabad and they came to know I was Ronit’s brother, they’d run away,” he says.

Rohit, who was preparing for his MBA when his brother bagged his feature film debut in Jaan Tere Naam (1992), remembers visiting him during a song shoot at Andheri Sports Complex. “He was in swimming trunks and the actress was in a ridiculous purple bikini and they were jumping in and out of the pool. I returned home to tell my mom that her son was doing sleazy films, wearing just a chaddi.”

Ronit signed 40 films following his debut, “of which, 25 producers never showed up, 15-16 went into production, 13 got made, half didn’t release and the ones that did, flopped.” He continues, “I wanted to be a hero when I came to Mumbai and all the trappings that came with it — big house, big car and girls running after me. I got all that with Jaan Tere Naam and then I lost it too. Now, I want to become an actor, and not a star,” says Ronit, who will be next seen in Sarkar 3. “May be, I signed the wrong films. When you’re 26, you don’t know any better.”

Ronit, who won a Filmfare Award for his performance in Udaan, eventually turned to television as a means of keeping his acting career alive. He began with a show opposite Bhagyashree before Ekta Kapoor cast him in Zee TV’s Kammal in 2000 and later in Kasautii Zindagii Kay and Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi in 2002. “I was initially paid Rs 2,500 a day. I felt that if I could make Rs 50,000 a month, it would pay for food, rent, alcohol and mobile bills.” Instead, Ronit became an overnight primetime success. From 2002 to 2010, he worked on a minimum of three TV shows every year and “couldn’t spare time for films”.

Rohit, who admitted to scoffing at his brother’s profession initially, was left adrift when his US visa was rejected in 1992. Prior to his entrance test at Symbiosis, Pune, a chance meeting with Kunal Kapoor, an advertising maverick then, resulted in a move to agency life and he reluctantly strayed into modeling too. “Anant Balani, who had made Patthar Ke Phool, saw my photographs, which were terrible, and called me for a screen test, which was even worse. But he liked it and that’s how I got my first film with Suchitra Krishnamoorthi called Jazbaat which never released,” says Rohit.

A year later, Rohit shot to fame with his TV debut in Swabhimaan. “I was rejected during my audition by Shobhaa De, who wrote the show. She felt I was ‘too MTV’ to play Rishabh Malhotra. She wanted someone like Mohnish Behl, but younger. Later, Mahesh Bhatt, one of the makers, spotted me while going through the rejected auditions, and because of my red jacket he placed his bets on me,” he says.

The Roy brothers’ up and down relationship with success caused some problems for their mother too. “During Swabhimaan, when Ronit was totally out of work, people would tell my mother, ‘we saw the show, but bada beta kya kar raha hain?’ Then, the same phase came in my life in 2013-2014, and they’d ask her, ‘we watch Adaalat but chota ladka kya kar raha hain?’” Rohit says with a laugh.

These days, Rohit has chosen to get behind the camera because it is something he had “always planned to do” but was also in part due to his stuttering acting career. Rohit says he has made peace with the fact that he is “not a star”.

As it happens, Ronit will be playing the lead in the Bhansali love story that Rohit will direct. The younger Roy shares his first choice for the lead was Naseeruddin Shah. “I hated Ronit’s work in Jaan Tere Naam even though the film made him a star. But when I saw him in Udaan, I cried and then I saw him as the gritty cop in Ugly and I was sure that only he could play the character I had in mind.”

So the next time someone asks their mother what the brothers are doing, the answer will be easy.

Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, Hrithik Roshan took centrestage at the recently concluded Hello! awards
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 30, 2017)

The 10th anniversary of Hello! Magazine was marked with the star-studded Hello! Hall of Fame Awards on Tuesday, March 28 at the Taj Lands’ End in Bandra, with Bollywood A-listers headlining the red carpet arrivals.

Hrithik Roshan, who received an award from Rekha, his screen mum from Koi... Mil Gaya, was ecstatic, repeatedly exulting that it was a “special award because Rekha has been a silent angel” in his life. When the 43-year-old actor proceeded to touch the Bollywood diva’s feet, she joked that she’d gladly accept a ‘guru dakshina’ in the form of a movie with him.



Elsewhere, Katrina Kaif, Alia Bhatt and Anushka Sharma put their never-seen-before camaraderie on display, even sharing a table briefly. Kat, who was initially unsure about turning up, having spent the entire afternoon filming Jagga Jasoos, looked radiant in a fiery red Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla number and took home the Glamour Icon trophy. She was back on the set of the Anurag Basu fantasy-adventure after the do.

Host of the evening Sophie Choudry crooned “Diamonds Are Forever”, while saxophone prodigy Rhys Sebastian delivered a standout performance; Indo-Canadian comedian Russell Peters had the audience in splits with a stand-up act and also shook a leg with Badrinath Ki Dulhania hero Varun Dhawan.

An overwhelmed Karan Johar, while handing out the Outstanding Talent of the Year award to his protégée, Alia, exclaimed, “She is my second daughter and third child,” to which the 24-year-old ‘student’ quipped that she’d play KJo’s mum Hiroo if there was a biopic being made on the filmmaker. “You aren’t Sindhi enough,” KJo noted, adding that she should play his childhood friend, Twinkle Khanna, instead.



Meanwhile, Mrs Funnybones, who arrived with mum Dimple Kapadia, won a standing ovation at the end of her acceptance speech that was generously peppered with spiffy punch lines. The Visionary Woman of the Year quipped, “I might not deserve this award, and I definitely didn’t deserve the name, Twinkle, which was a major reason for me being bullied as a kid.” The bestselling author and soon-to-debut film producer thanked her actress-mum for being her role model. “She wasn’t always an exceptional actress, but she didn’t let failures get to her,” Twinkle noted, while dotting mum Dimple hurled flying kisses from the front row.

Disha Patani, last seen in Jackie Chan’s Kung Fu Yoga, was the Fresh Face of the Year, while Anushka Sharma received the Entertainer of the Year trophy. Shahid Kapoor went down on one knee (again) for missus Mira Rajput, as the duo picked up with Most Stylish Couple prize. Author-columnist Shobhaa De, who sat between Hrithik and Varun Dhawan (the Popular Choice winner) in the front row, was adjudged Timeless Icon trophy. Saif Ali Khan, who’s recently returned from a brief holiday in London, was to receive the Most Stylish Man award but gave the event a miss.

MUMBAI MIRROR (December 10, 2016)

Proud mum Shobhaa De launched her daughter Anandita De’s feisty new blog about fashion and fitness – Risque by Ana De – at a popular European resto-bar in Bandra. Hrithik Roshan, whose elegant and sporty clothing line has been one of Ana’s favourite, launched the blog, while friends Kanika Kapoor, Athiya Shetty and businessman Yash Birla cheered on.

The oldest film producers' body in India has passed a resolution that Pakistani artistes will not be allowed to be a part of our entertainment industry. Opinion makers speak up...
Rachana Dubey, Debarati Sen and Seema Mattoo (BOMBAY TIMES; October 1, 2016)