Nationality: Indian
Pet Peeve: Racial discrimination. Sexual discrimination.
Drink that you would order at a coffee shop: I don't drink coffee or tea. I need things to calm me down not wake me up.
1. Firstly, thank you for agreeing to be interviewed despite your very hectic lifestyle.So tell me who is Aditya Kripalani? Tell me a little bit about your background. Where were you born? Basically a brief synopsis of your life from a child up until university.
Smart. This way you don't need to rack your brains about specific questions! ;) rebellious child due to strictness and too much disciplinary action at home. Mischievous school boy. Used to be punished for hours at a time and made to stand outside the class. I suffered from a tremendous inferiority complex physically in school as I looked goofy and had no subject I could excel in. Every other boy beat me up and ragged me. None of the girls really paid attention. When I went into college I began working out and suddenly saw people reacting differently. In college I became this super mean guy who used to make people cry just by pulling their leg. Not something I'm proud of. Then I met my wife and I began to change. Went to the FTII for a post grad in Script and Film Screenplay. There were 2000 applicants competing for 8 seats. I stood second or first and I realized that there's something they see in me which I did not seem to have discovered within myself. Did my post grad in film screenplay writing alongside a course in psychoanalysis. Really turned my life around, that one year. Back to Mumbai and very very trying times as a writer. 20 email exchanges for example arguing for 5000 rupees, having to wait for hours in film offices for my money after calling for days and being refused. Fought, cried, became depressed, put on 25 kilos. Low point.
Began Karate, lost 25 kilos in 6 months, regained confidence, understood genuine happiness and the power of cardio and things started looking up. Worked as a fitness trainer certified by Reebok to make money, began working at a film company as a script reader. Moved up to being the Creative Head of the film company (I Dream Production, makers of Bend It like Beckham and Monsoon Wedding) over 4 years. Then moved on to Percept Picture Company as their Creative Head. Credited on 6 films as SCRIPT CONSULTANT of which two, TAHAAN (won 11 international awards) and JOGWA won 37 national and state awards. And then frustrated that I couldn't write a film without a hundred opinions which were uninformed, I wrote a book. Rejected by every, yes EVERY Indian publisher. Depression again. And then I finally decided to self publish. My wife and I stood on roads, outside restaurants and sold the first 1000 copies. Then a national distributor took it up (names VASANT KAMAT) and it entered stores a year after publication. Became a best seller slowly over the next few years and now its a double best seller with over 40,000 fans on FB and another 10k on twitter. The power of social media is invaluable to independent film-makers and publishers alike.
Now I am in the process of releasing my second book FRONT SEAT which is a sequel to BACK SEAT.
2. Was writing always your passion? When did the realization set in that you wanted to pursue a career in writing?
I had no clue that I could write or that I wanted to write. I wanted to become a film director and had assisted on 2 feature films and shot for one of them at the FTII in Pune (the film institute). After being in that campus for a while I felt that I must learn more from 'here'. So I applied for the film appreciation course. Then I wanted to apply for a Post Grad in feature film writing and this was purely from a direction perspective. I got in and a month into working on my first screenplay I decided I want to write for life and not direct. This was 9 years ago and the feelings has n't changed.
3. Your first book 'Back Seat' has received worldwide recognition. Of course the journey was not all smooth sailing. What were some of the hardships you faced in terms of following your dream and wanting your book to be a major success ?
Bringing the book into bookshops was a tough one. Self published books hardly ever make it into book stores. Then finding a distributor was tough. However, having received fabulous reviews from many people who have expressed how the book has touched them has certainly made the journey a worth while experience.
4. What topics and subjects are you the most passionate about?
Equality. I hate to admit it but sex. Since it seems to form such a strong theme in both my novels. psychology. marriage. writing. novels. films. the lives of inspiring artists. art in general. Music, to a great extent. friendships.
5. If someone could grant you one wish and you could choose to have any skill or talent in the world, what would it be?
To be able to write like Gabriel Garcia Marquez in 'Love in the time of cholera' or to have written a book like 'Life of Pi' or in what I feel is the highest degree of quality writing 'The old man and the sea'.
6. What are your favourite websites?
Facebook.com which has enabled my book to succeed. Flipkart.com where I buy all my books from now, goodreads.com where I get my recommendations from and apple.com and legalsounds.com where I buy music from.
7. What are your thoughts on polygamous relationships?
They have their own flavor just as monogamous relationships. no right or wrong. Just what the deal/understanding between you and your partner is. So if its going to cause tremendous hurt to your partner personally I'd say stay away from it. Again human beings do falter. If your partner falters but you see scope in him/her to change, grow, move on, and if that seemed like a phase fair enough. Else take a stand and don't allow yourself to be taken for granted. Also, there are no real rules for relationships which are universal. Hence its all about your particular deal/equation.
8. If you were not a script writer/author what would you be doing?
Writing songs and performing them.
9. What is your opinion about interfaith marriages?
They rock. Best of two worlds. of course you might get the worst of them both in terms of their regressive thinking but you can try to glean the best out of them both.
10. Who or whats inspires you?
Steve Jobs, Bob Dylan, U2, Miles Davis, good music, paintings, books, stories in general good films. I watched DDLJ (Dilwale dulhaniya Le Jayenge) 32 times in the theatre. My grandfather and grandmother and masi.
11. Define success...What does success mean to you?
Success to me means being able to stay in love, to build in love, to grow in love with your work and your lover.
12. Where do you see yourself five years from now? What are your future plans?Having written another novel. Being able to have gotten some more credibility as a writer. Met some more friends. Understood a little more about love and what it takes to keep it powerful.
13. What advice would you give to a young student who wants to pursue a career in writing?
Be ready for cartloads of heartache but then the highs are unparalleled too. Low lows. Super high highs. so if you want a placid peaceful life, leave writing.
14. Are there any additional comments you’d like to add for the blog readers?
Sumayya's observations about life is interesting. Watch this space.
Once again, thank you Aditya for taking the time to answer these questions. Desert Moon wishes you all the best in your future endeavours!!!
Aditya's website address : http://www.adityakripalani.com/
