Just recently – on June 17, 2024 – to be precise, Bollywood actor Alia Bhatt burst onto the literary scene (Yes, you read that right!) with her debut children’s book Ed Finds a Home, the first in a series.
However, she is not the only celebrity in this industry to do so. While we’ve heard of and read many Bollywood celebrities’ stories about their careers and personal lives, few have ventured and experimented beyond the genre of the memoir or autobiography.
Our list includes books from various genres, including cookbooks, picture books and short story anthologies, and languages like English and Hindi.
Daughter of Rajesh Khanna and Dimple Kapadia and previously a Bollywood actor, Khanna turned to writing columns in The Times of India and then novels. Khanna’s debut portrays the life of the contemporary Indian woman—a woman who juggles organizing dinner every evening with a full day of work, who manages her own life while still heeding her Mummyji’s advice, and who frets about both her weight and the state of the country.
By Shilpa Shetty Kundra with Luke Coutinho
A professional nutritionist and a Bollywood celebrity who takes health and fitness very seriously come together to explain to their audience components of the great Indian diet. Kundra’s book is based on nutritious Indian culinary classics using ingredients that are readily available in the market, thereby making the recipes accessible for readers.
By Manav Kaul
Of Vidya Balan-starrer Tumhari Sulu fame, Manav Kaul is also a playwright and author of several books like Bahut Door Kitna Door Hota Hai and Shirt Ka Teesra Button. He typically writes poetry but his novel Rooh charts his journey back to his lost motherland, Kashmir. Written as a travelogue, it is largely based on Kaul’s ancestry and birth into a Kashmiri Pandit family. The lyrical, stream-of-consciousness writing is sure to make your heart fond and full of yearning for home and your true identity.
By Alyque Padamsee with Vandana Saxena Poria
Regarded as the father of modern Indian advertising and a theatre director and filmmaker, Padamsee writes a one-of-a-kind, genre-bending book which boasts of many different ideas. It busts some well-known taboos, includes life hacks and tips drawing on his experiences in advertising and theatre and answers questions like “Why should marriage be ’till death do us part’?”, all in his unique charm and wit.
By Ashutosh Rana
Ashutosh Rana is quite the multifaceted personality — he acts in and produces Marathi, Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, and Hindi films along with writing fiction. Some of his notable works include Ramrajya and Maun Muskaan Ki Maar.
Maun Muskaan Ki Maar is a short story anthology in Hindi with mostly satirical pieces on topics like death, patriotism and even social media. Rana’s anthology is rooted in his rustic touch and wisdom in equal parts.
By Soha Ali Khan and Kunal Kemmu
Written together, this picture book follows Inni, a lonely girl, and Bobo, a stray dog, who cross paths and form an instant bond. Their friendship grows as they navigate adventures together and teach each other the value of companionship and love. If you liked Alia Bhatt’s new picture book or are planning on read it, this one should be on your and your children’s radar too! They’re both about finding home and family one longs for.
By Shweta Bachchan-Nanda
Shweta Bachchan-Nanda, daughter of megastar Amitabh Bachchan, is a columnist and writer and her novel Paradise Towers is set in a bustling Mumbai apartment complex. The story weaves together the lives of its quirky residents, uncovering secrets, friendships, and drama. With rich character development and an engaging narrative, this book offers a delightful glimpse into the vibrant tapestry of urban Indian life in the metropolis.
Love Bollywood? Here’s a pick of popular memoirs and biographies of Bollywood stars:
