Love. Actually or otherwise, is Durjoy Dutta's playground. From concocting stories to cover up to writing to woo women, the written word has made this 28-year-old author one of the most sought after paperback wizards in an age of 140 characters and Snapchat. It's safe to say that romance has always fascinated the author of 'Of OCurse I Love You', and relationships are almost always perfect fodder for his life behind the pen. A bestselling author who doubles up as a screenwriter and entrepreneur and has to his credit thirteen novels, two short stories and three television, Durjoy Dutta gets talking about what drives him to do what he does. And whether he gets hurt in the process...
What's it like being one of the youngest authors of the country? Is there an exciting daily routine?
I wish I had something romantic to say, something exciting, but it’s rather boring. I get up, I read a little, I write a little, I watch a couple of movies or TV shows, a trip to the local bookstore, then get back to reading and writing. Most of the days, this is what my schedule is.
What pushed you to begin writing while in college?
I had always liked to write. I had been a blogger for quite some time before I started writing novels. And I always believe that if someone likes to write he will always have plenty of time to write. But having said that, I did forgo quite a few things while I was at Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurgaon where the pressure to perform academically was considerably higher. But I never minded it. I loved to write and I didn’t thing I missed a single thing.
Did you become a celebrity in college after your first book hit stands?
Not really. Since the first print run of the debut book I wrote was just 4000 copies it wasn’t as if everyone had suddenly started reading my books. The book built on the word of mouth and it wasn’t until a year passed that people realised that it was indeed a bestseller. But even then, the thought of a book written by me was so zany that we couldn’t wrap our heads around it. So nothing really changed!
Did you have a creative streak from when you were yea tall?
I think I have always been a good liar. That was my first brush with storytelling. I was a compulsive liar, and a good one at that. Soon after, writing meant wooing women, and then I started blogging. So in a way, writing and telling stories had always been a big part of my life. I started writing a blog in 2006. I used to bully a lot of people into reading my work and they eventually started liking it. Then, they started asking me to give writing books a serious thought. Initially, I never felt that my work would get published, but when it did, I was really happy. However, I never stopped being a nerd. I was always into engineering and clearing entrance exams. I knew I had to get a job. It was only after I was sure that I didn't want to pursue a career in engineering, did I think of taking up writing as a full-time profession.
Many people are now giving up lucrative jobs to wield the pen. Your take?
It’s still extremely hard to make money as a writer. Whoever of us who have taken that decision knows of the uncertainty of a writer’s life. I would never recommend anyone to leave everything and jump into writing without a contract in hand. It’s always a sensible thing to do to take one step at a time.
Why have all your books been about love and relationship?
I started writing about romance because I understood those stories and those relationships. Characters fascinate me and I always try to concentrate on that. In most of my books, the plots come later. It’s totally by accident that they decide to fall in love, or be friends with each other.
What challenges are you finding in Indian publishing?
I think it’s the best time for Indian publishing. Getting a book published has never been easier. A lot of debut authors are getting published and it’s only a matter of time before a few authors across different genres break into the mainstream and sell a million copies.
Was your family supportive?
My family didn’t know for the longest that I had written a book. It’s only after the book crept up on the bestseller lists that they realised I had written one. They never had a reason not to support me. I had always done well academically and that’s all they wanted from me.
Since you are in the ‘marriageable age’ bracket now, is there a chance that your future books also graduate to marriage, money and relationships?
I’m trying to pen down a thriller and a fantasy at the moment. So never say never!
Have any of your friends/girlfriends ever given you an earful about some 'interesting' experiences you decided to write about?
I have been threatened with dire consequences as well.
Here's the Scoop on Our Impossible Love.
It’s a coming of age story of a 17-year-old girl who’s battling questions about her sexuality and trying to find out what’s is it to be a woman, and her student counsellor, who is 23 but is equally lost. It’s the story how they help each other navigate the choppy waters ahead of them. It is the story of Danish Roy and Aisha Paul, both different in their own way since school time, and find it very hard to compare themselves with their classmates and peers and how they find their closure in life through several twists and turns is what keeps the readers gripped.