I cannot control people’s reactions: Chetan Bhagat

Popular Indian author Chetan Bhagat’s latest book One Indian Girl was released this October. Whether you like his writing or not is subjective, but the fact that he has a huge fan following in the country and has been able to make a lot of people read his books is commendable. We had a conversation with Bhagat wherein he spoke on varied topics—from his book and writing, being a mentor for Write India, to his opinion on internet trolling.Excerpts from the interview...
You pick up a social issue in most of your books—be it inter-caste marriage in 2 States or feminism in One Indian Girl. What inspired you to write through a woman’s perspective in One Indian Girl?
Well I was thinking to write this for a long time. It sounds simple but it is actually very challenging. You know writing in a woman’s voice for a man is not easy, and that too writing a book on women’s issues... I thought I can do it. It took me a long time— I mean it took me around 12 years as a writer, and obviously this issue is an important one in the country.
How long did it take you to conceptualise, research and write the book?
I started to work on it after Half Girlfriend was released. I did six months of research and it took me another year to write the book.
Tell us more about researching for the book...
I spoke to some 100 women. I went into the zone to get the voice. I went to every woman I knew starting with my wife, my ex-girlfriends, colleagues, friends... and then also women whom I have never met before like the flight attendants, the hotel staff and people like that. Basically I just got them to talk about themselves, what drives them, what do they think about men, their career, how their parents pressurise them to get married. So from there I was trying to make a common theme, a common narration and that’s how the story came about.
So is Radhika Mehta, the protagonist in One Indian Girl, similar to any one woman whom you met while researching?
Radhika is not similar to any one woman. I write stories which are relatable. I write books which are read in every corner of the country. Anybody who picks up the book should be able to relate to it. When a girl picks it up she would be like ‘Oh I do that sometimes’; when a guy picks it up it he would be like ‘I do that too’. So it has to be no one person. It is all the people whom I met; it’s an amalgamation of their personalities.

(Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut with author Chetan Bhagat during launch of the book "One Indian Girl" in Mumbai. File Photo: PTI)
Since One Indian Girl is a book on feminism, has writing this book helped you understand your wife better now?
I think so. I mean, generally, I understand women much better now. It has made me much more patient with them and made me understand feminism.
On a lighter note, can we now say that Chetan Bhagat knows ‘what women want’ after doing much research?
I think you can say that I know some of what women want. I can definitely tell what a woman wants by talking to her, not all of it though. I can understand women better.
Any tips on understanding women for Indian men out there?
Well, you have to realise that times have changed and that women now are more empowered. There was a time when the man had to make money whereas the woman had to take care of the house but it has changed. A woman now doesn’t need a man to provide for her. A woman now needs a man who inspires her, will be her partner, give her advice, bring out the best in her. Men have to realise that what they had in their mother’s time or grandmother’s time has changed.
Talking of your writing it is simple, easy to read and comprehend. That’s the Chetan Bhagat style...
It is important that what you are writing should be simple. It is not simple to be simple. I do work very hard, I mean I tell my story and tell it in a simple manner.
You were one of the mentors for the Write India Season 1 campaign. Tell us about it.
Well of course when we started I thought that reading and writing is said to be declining but we got a lot of responses, I was told, and I’m happy to know. It’s a good initiative. People talking about reading and writing, when the world is filled with apps and videos these days.
What would your writing tips be for an aspiring writer?
Read a lot, write a lot.
You have written books, movie scripts, been on TV... what next now? Are you planning to reinvent again?
This book is a reinvention of my writing. There’s a lot of thought that’s put to writing. So now I’m going to see, I’m going to slow it down a bit.
Coming to your interaction with people on social media, it’s noticed that there have been a few incidences of trolling too. How do you manage to stay positive and take things in your stride?
I cannot control people’s reactions—that’s not in my hands. If you write something, a book, some people won’t like you. I can only take a feedback if it is well thought of but if it is just a rant, or trolling, that I don’t think even deserves a discussion. It’s a part of being on social media—to be trolled.
Plus celebs are too accessible to people through social media...
Yes, and some people end up misusing this. The sad part is it’s causing a lot of celebrities to stay off Twitter and other platform. It’s very easy to troll anyone, it’s very hard to create an image... why keep talking about it?
So what’s your mantra in life?
I always keep telling people don’t take things too seriously. I’m not a very serious person but I’m very sincere about my work. When I do something I try to do it well and up to my ability.