AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Interview with Priya Saralkar, the author of "I, Me and Salman – 95% Fiction"

Greetings Priya..

Hope you are doing good. Let me begin the interview with the first question.

Can you tell us about yourself?

Hi. I am a Software Professional by occupation. I am born and brought up in Mumbai and have spent the majority of my life in Mumbai.

When did you first start writing?

Do you mean about this book or generally? Everyone writes, at some point or other😊.

But this is my first published work. I started on it in May 2010, and wrote a single chapter and then almost gave it up and didn't write anything for the next five years. I started in earnest on this book on 1st March 2015, after I heard Salim Khan sir's interview, where he spoke about telling stories. The curious thing is that I have written this book entirely by hand, and then typed it out. So every time I wrote, I also wrote the date on each page. I have also given these dates in the book as well, though that's never done.

Regarding songs, I have been writing songs since 2007, though none of my songs have been published yet.

Do you remember what you wrote first?

Yes, the book is written sequentially, so the first chapter, on the bizarre connect Radha has with the radio was written first. The chapter titled "It begins" and also a section of the next chapter "Mumbai main aaya mera dost", these were written earlier in May 2010, as the radio was always going to be a part of the story.

With songs, one of the first songs I wrote was for a contest for Red FM and Close up. Close up had a contest for their song. They had a line 'Paas Aao Na' and as part of the contest, anyone could send lines that went with it. The final 'Paas Aao Na' song that still plays today had many lines sent by many unknown people that was merged together. So I sent some lines for it and also wrote a separate song 'Paas Aao Na' with half the tune different from the Paas Aao Na tune.

If yes, can you kindly share with us?

Yes, regarding the book, as I mentioned earlier, I first had this story idea in 2010. But at that time, the story wasn't specifically about Salman. At that time, the story was that a girl has a breakup, and then she meets a star whom she has always idolized, loved, whom she has fantasized to be her friend. I think of this story as a film, so at that time, in my mind, the star in this book was Shahid Kapoor. Over the years, my 'love' or 'craze' for Salman went a little overboard and I thought that this has to be a story with Salman. And then the story changed from a single breakup to all the breakups that Salman and Radha had over the years. So that was how it was written.

How did you get interested in writing?

I just thought that this was a very sweet and beautiful story to tell. That's why I started writing it. Salman's life story is known to all, and the things that are not known, will never be known, because only he knows his story. But eventually, someone will try to make this story on screen, in print, so why not me. 😊 Radha's story too is extremely filmy, very visual, just made for a film. So I thought the least I could do was to at least try and tell the story. So the only reason to write was that I wanted to tell this story.

Who are your favourite authors? Why?

One of my favourite authors is Arthur Hailey. Each of his books is setup in a specific industry, so it is fascinating to know a different industry every time.

Tell us about your book.

It is my version of Cinderella with Salman Khan as Prince Charming. Except, since we are in the 21st century, both Cinderella and Prince Charming will go through several breakups before their paths can cross. Cinderella will be chasing her own dreams, building her career, and Prince Charming will be building his own castles. 😊

Why did you choose this concept?

As I said earlier, the original story idea was that the girl has a breakup and then meets a star whom she has always loved, liked, fantasized as a friend. But subsequently over the years, I was almost going crazy over Salman. So I thought that the star in this story has to be Salman. So then I realized its not writing about one breakup, but the entire journey and that is how it evolved to be across a period of twenty years, charting Salman and Radha's ups and downs.

Also, it's a different way to tell a story for a public figure – through the eyes of someone who knows only his public persona and the events of his life, only to surmise the emotions that he may be going through. The perception of a public figure may be different for everyone, but Radha's perception about Salman is obviously the perception of someone who has adulated him all her life.

Do you have any such imaginary friend like Radha?

I do have a friend like Radha but she's not imaginary. 😊 My twitter handle for the last ten years is radha. 😊

To answer your question a little more, if you mean whether I have any real or imaginary friends like Radha, who are obsessed with Salman? Then there are at least ten million girls like Radha who are in love with Salman Khan, are obsessed with him, and think of him as their best friend in mind. 😊 Now, thanks to twitter and facebook, they can try and reach out to him. And yes I am obsessed with him as well. 😊

You had mentioned it's 95% fiction, so can you tell us about the 5%?

Yes, so, with Salman Khan, how could I say it is fiction. So the book does describe the events in his life, though to a limited extent. So his story is the 5% reality that is described.

Is Salman Khan your favourite actor?

Yes, very much 😊 absolutely. 😊

Who has been your inspiration?

My parents have been my inspiration.

What are your views on love and relationship?

Hmmm. 😊 That is a really complicated question. 😊 But love is simple. It just happens. Relationship though is a mutual choice. Its necessary for two people to be on the same page in a relationship. They should want the same things from a relationship, have the same expectations from it. Both of them should have a clear idea of what they want from the relationship and where its headed.

How should a story or a poem be, according to you?

No, every story and every poem is an expression of the writer. So I don't think there can be any set ideas of how a story or a poem should be. Its just that some will like a story or a poem and some won't. Some may want pace in a story, and some may be okay with reading a story that is sluggish, a bit like life's sluggish pace itself. Some may want decorative words in a song, and some may be content with a thought, even if its not conventionally poetic.

So I don't have any set ideas of how stories or poems should be. Yes, but I do expect content, whichever way it is written.

How do you feel when you write?

At home😊. I feel at home when I am writing.

I was that girl who cried in 12th standard exams, because I lost 100 marks out of 700, because I could not complete questions worth 100 marks, because I had written such long answers. 😊 And I was that girl who always wrote long letters and long emails to friends. So much so that friends would say - bas kar yaar. Kitna lamba hain tera email. 😊

So I guess I feel perfectly at home when I am writing 😊

What are your other hobbies?

The last 3-4 years, it has only been about the book. Any spare time I get from work and home goes in the book. I like to write songs, but that's when I have an idea or a thought or a tune. Besides that, I like watching movies. And watching Salman Khan & Katrina Kaif videos. And I am addicted to twitter. 😊

How was your publishing journey with Blue Rose Publishers?

It was good and largely smooth. Since this is my first book, everything is new and a learning experience. The process is managed by the publishers, so it is great when your publishing dream comes true with limited inputs from your side.

When can we expect your next book?

Since 'I Me And Salman – 95% Fiction' is a two volume book, the next and concluding volume will be out soon, hopefully in three-four months.

Where can readers find your other writings?

I don't have any other written published works yet, nor do I blog. But the songs and poems I have written are available for listening on soundcloud/priya-saralkar.

But you are advised to use cotton if you listen, because I am a songwriter, and not a singer. 😊 I only sung those songs because I wrote them for a specific tune, some my own tunes, and some by other composers.

Where can readers connect to you?

They can connect with me on Twitter. My twitter handles are @priyasaralkar & @radha763.

Few words you would like to say to your readers.

Thanks for reading a book by a new author. I hope you like my story and I hope I am able to transport you into the world of Salman and Radha. Any suggestions, comments, feedback, criticism, all are welcome. 😊

Finally, few words of advice for the upcoming writers?

No, I am way too new to give any advice to anyone. But I can say this much that we can write what appeals to our heart. We need to write as per our belief, conviction, our vision of the story, and hope that readers like it too.

Thank you for your time Priya... All the best for your future endeavors..

Thank you, for all your thoughtful questions. THANK YOU!! 😊