Conversation with Ajitabha Bose
Ajitabha Bose is a celebrated Indian bestselling author, filmmaker, and publisher who has made a significant mark in the fields of literature and media. Known for his innovative contributions, he holds a national record for publishing the smallest love storybook in India. Currently based in Delhi, Ajitabha hails from Jamshedpur, where he spent his early years. He completed his schooling at Gulmohur High School and pursued higher education at the Institute of Management Studies, Ghaziabad.
Ajitabha is credited with introducing the concept of pocketbooks in India, a revolutionary idea that has redefined compact storytelling. He has authored nine books, including “It’s A Love Story” (2013), “The Pocket Love Story” (2015), “In Love with Shah Rukh Khan” (2016), “The Bestseller” (2017), “It’s My Love Story” (2018), “Until We Meet Again” (2019), “Love in Jamshedpur” (2020), and “The YouTube Stars of India” (2021). His latest book, “Ye Baarish, Ishq aur Tum…” (2021), continues to captivate readers. With over a million readers, his work has earned a place in the Limca Book of Records, highlighting his exceptional contributions to Indian literature.
Ajitabha’s book “In Love with Shah Rukh Khan” received global acclaim and even garnered appreciation from Shah Rukh Khan himself. Another remarkable achievement, “The YouTube Stars of India”, is an authorized account of the lives of prominent Indian YouTubers such as Carryminati, Amit Bhadana, Ashish Chanchlani, Technical Guruji, Prajakta Koli, and many others. The book celebrates the rising influence of digital creators in modern India.
Apart from his literary pursuits, Ajitabha is the Chairman and Co-Founder of BDL Studios, a reputed production house in Delhi-NCR. With an impressive portfolio of over 550 videos and 55,000 designs, his creative expertise extends to filmmaking and graphic design. Recently, he ventured into publishing by launching his own imprint, Ajitabha Publishers, further cementing his role as a multifaceted innovator in the creative industry.
1. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
> Being born and brought up in Bengali family I always heard stories and poems by Rabindranath Tagore. And since school time I started to write essays and poem from which everyone starts. I also write for school magazine but when I came to college in year 2010. They started reading novels frequently. I think Sudip Sir, Gajoe Sir and lot’s of people started reading. That was first time when I thought ‘Yes, I can definitely write a book’. In 2013 I finally wrote a my first book.
2. Why do you choose to write a small book?
> I frequently get this question why I choose to write a small book.
I remember when I was traveling to the my hometown Jamshedpur for the Dussehra. I met this girl ‘Neha’ in the train compartment. And I was reading the book of Sudip Nagarkar I think that was recently released book. All of a sudden she said that “How do you read this fat book? “ So, I said “ I like reading so I am reading this fat book. If you suggest you can one of my book. My recently published story in anthology. “. She said “ Why people don’t write short stories. It was easy and doesn’t take much time.
That day I have an idea that section of people want to read the books but they doesn’t because of size of books. So when I come back to Delhi. I have a short story I spoke to the publisher and of course they said ‘NO’. So I have to wait for next anthology. I was convenience and I think week or 10 days later I had a idea why not pocket book. We have pocket dairy, pocket dictionary why we don’t have pocket book. That’s how first pocket book came out.
3. Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?
> Ya, I am a fiction writer, but nothing is fiction it’s all fiction is a myth and I didn’t inspire from real life incidents or real person. And that’s the idea actually you know every one has story. I think being a CEO of a company or watchman standing outside of company. Everyone has a story. You just have to look and find out the stories and you have lot’s of inspiring stories .
4. When did you write your first book and how old were you?
> I think I wrote my first book when I am in third year of college and it was 2013, So I think I was 21 year old that time. And honestly I never thought I become best selling author.
5. What does your family think of your writing?
> Of course, My family has been my biggest support. Through my career. Be when I choose to be film maker, be when I took mass com or be idea of writing book.
My grandfather was a theater artist. My father still doing theater. He is director and actor he has done lot’s of of shows through out India. So when he get to know that I will write a book especially story book he was very happy. He is still happy and proud that I do something interesting.
6. What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
> It was not surprising but really shocking that I thought if you write good book you make a sell but that came to me as shock when I released my first book and I was literally struggling to sell because I think it was good story. But somehow it was not selling. Which is something that comes to my mind after that not only your writing need to be good your marketing person also matter. Just writing a good story doesn’t sell. You must have good marketing plan good budget to spend on marketing. That was shock for me.
7. In your childhood, what did you want to do when you grew up?
> Honestly when I was very young in class 2 or 3 I wanted to become a software engineer. I was been very good in computer since in early age. But with time may be I was inspired by my father I wanted to so film making when I was in grade 7. But yes writing was never in my plan but somehow. It came to me and I gradually adopted may be I hope I am doing good. So, ya writing was never my first option it was not my choice even when I was 21. It was something that I like but I always wanted to become filmmaker. But I am popular author now. So, you know God do things for our benefit that is the reason.