Bollywood is not priority: Chetan Bhagat

Three of his books have been adapted into films, another is on its way and then he has signed a deal for his fifth as well to be made into a movie.

Three of his books have been adapted into films, another is on its way and then he has signed a deal for his fifth as well to be made into a movie. But author Chetan Bhagat says Bollywood hasn’t taken priority for him.

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“I’m fortunate that this is happening to me. But I hope I am not sucked in by Bollywood. Otherwise it would affect my writing, “ says Bhagat, who is also writing the screenplay for Salman Khan’s next, Kick.

Isn’t his statement quite contradictory in comparison to his involvement with films?
“I know but I say that because I don’t want Bollywood to define me,” says the 38-year-old, who is now keeping his hopes up for upcoming flick Kai Po Che which is based on his third novel, The 3 Mistakes of My Life. Ask him if he has taken care of his credit this time, after not getting one in the Aamir Khan starrer blockbuster 3 Idiots based on his book Five Point Someone, Bhagat says, “O yes, absolutely. I’m careful enough not to touch the hot stove again.”

He once said that he would only want stars to do films based on his books. Surprisingly Kai Po Che has none. “Yes. There are no stars. I am gaining confidence that without stars as well, a film could do as much as it should at the box office,” he says.