Mumbai: Engineer and investment banker-turned-author Chetan Bhagat, now considered a bestselling novelist is taking a break from writing to dwell on "completely new" things. "I am very tired of writing books and want to do something else, something out of the ordinary," says Bhagat.
The author spoke about style with substance at a preview of the Blender's Pride Fashion Tour here. The Tour, currently in its 10th edition has roped in Bhagat along with actors Boman Irani and Irrfan Khan as well as former cricketer Wasim Akram to talk about how they interpret style. "Talking about style and fashion is a little bit different from the things I usually do. It is not something that engineers are usually associated with," says Bhagat.
Bhagat says his friend, ace designer Masaba was inspired enough by his recent novel to recently unveil a limited edition sari collection themed on the book. The fiction "Half Girlfriend", a love story set in Delhi and Bihar attempts to explore the prevailing urban-rural divide in the country."I think this would be the first time that a book has inspired a designer," says Bhagat.
The author, an alumnus of Indian Institute of Technology straddled a day job as an investment banker to launch his first book "Five Point Someone" in 2004. During the last 10 years, Bhagat turned full time author and wrote six novels, turned screenwriter and columnist as well as dabbled in speaking at various events. He also picked up and lost a lot of weight and was seen sporting a slimmer frame. "It is all a process of getting old," says the author.
Admitting that he wears what is in vogue with his age, Bhagat, now 40-years-old, says he does not dress young and that it is important to "not copy anyone". "I now wear a lot of shirts with sleeveless jackets without a tie. I am also comfortable in a kurta," says the author. The idea he says he wants to convey is to "make people celebrate individual style."
Although he says he does not particularly follow fashion trends, ace fashion designer Narendra Kumar is someone whose works he is familiar with and likes. Bhagat is scheduled to speak in Bangalore during the tour, which is set to go to Hyderabad, Gurgaon, Bangalore and Kolkata and features collections by top designers like Tarun Tahiliani, Neeta Lula, Rocky S, Varun Bahl, Namrata Joshipura.
Music component is provided by Midival Punditz, Shaa'ir + Func among others. "The Tour has a history of showcasing elegance and glamour by facilitating talented ensemble of designers, artists and musicians," says Raja Banerji, Assistant Vice President, Pernod Ricard India.
This year we have tried to make the the Tour encompass style from various facets of art-forms along with fashion and glamour and have added literature, music, Bollywood in the mix," he says.
