My Interview with Rishi Vohra

This Interview is in line from the book review of  Rishi Vohra's debut Novel -'Once upon the tracks of Mumbai'



A stepping stone for me...my first interview and i must give my heartiest gratitude to Rishi Vohra, who bestowed me with this opportunity which i couldn't resist and grabbed with both hands. Today i am feeling blessed to cover this Interview and i thank him for giving his precious time over the questions...which i selected specially for him and his debut novel.




Here we go...with my first question to Rishi

Me: What inspired you to want to become a writer?

Rishi: I never decided to become a writer and somehow wandered to it. It started with writing guest columns, and went further into the visual medium. I found myself enjoying telling stories and decided to try my hand at writing a book. After I was published, I received positive feedback from both readers and critics alike. In a way, it was these comments that encouraged and inspired me to continue my journey of writing. But it was Babloo’s character that inspired me to put this story down on paper.

Me: Wow! It reminds me of the line -always keep focused to what you like to do and your destiny would  take you up to what you deserve...and there's always an inspiration behind to keep our goals within our reach...

Me: Can you tell us about your challenges in getting your first Novel published?

Rishi: As a person who is an outsider to the literary/publishing world, I didn’t know where to start. Since I was in the US at the time, I started querying U.S. literary agents which is the first step in the publication process there. One literary agent advised me to look towards the Indian market. I contacted publishing houses here and several expressed an interest to pick up Once Upon the Tracks of India for publication. So, I would say that the main challenges I faced were those of patience, and more patience. And of course, learning by trial and error.

Me: Patience and perseverance...and i would like to mention that in bold as this is something all aspiring writers should look forward to.

Me: What was the inspiration behind your Novel?

Rishi: I created Babloo’s character based on a friend of mine, and felt a pressing urge to tell his story. On further primary and secondary research, I realized that people are oblivious to the day to day challenges that people with disabilities have to face. Overall, they aren’t well-informed or educated as to how to deal with such disabilities pushing such people further into a corner.

Me: That's the significant point, not only you related your sentiments with a person with disability but also came up with this mind blowing plot which will certainly make people feel for it.

Me: Did you always know the end before you wrote it?

Rishi: Yes, I did. I feel that it’s important to have a starting and ending point as it helps you to give your characters direction and motivation during their journey.

Me: Clarity in thought and destination is the way to success and you are proving an epitome of this philosophy.

Me: Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in any way?

Rishi: The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger did have a profound effect on me. And of course, there are many more.

Me: That's Inspiring...and i believe there are many amongst us who would consider this masterpiece of JD Salinger to be their inspiration as well.

Me: What was your favorite chapter or scene to write and why?

Rishi: It was the last scene that I found most challenging and interesting to write because it was set in an environment that I had no knowledge of – a mental asylum. It was my favorite because it is ironical as Babloo finds his sanity and identity there rather than in the outside world.

Me: Challenging circumstances do bring out the person you really are...and therefore i must commend you for covering last scene as splendidly as it can be.

Me: Your story is set in Mumbai...why did you chose Mumbai?

Rishi: I have lived in Mumbai all my life and have an emotional connect with all the locations featured in the book. The book was set in and around the railway tracks, which is the lifeline of this city.

Me: This proves your Attachment to Mumbai...and your novel does gives ample examples of your bond with Mumbai City as your description were apt and succinct.

Me: If your book was made into a Movie, what actors would you like to see playing your characters?

Rishi: I could see Ranbir Kapoor, Imran Khan, Farhan Akhtar, or Arjun Kapoor playing Babloo's role. In terms of the leading lady, I could see Parineeti or Shahzn playing Vandana’s role.

Me: As i was expecting ...you have chosen actors who would comfortably fit with the roles of youth and Valor.

Me: Did you ever feel yourself like the main character...a real life hero?

Rishi: Of course! Every Indian has a hero inside us, and we all want to do something that would change lives for the better!

Me: Exactly and we all want to do something which would change life in a positive way.

Me: Who are Your Target Audience or who do you want to read your debut novel?

Rishi: My target audience for this book is everyone who has a heart, because you need a heart to feel for the main character.

Me: You know... when i was reading the concluding part i was turning the pages with fear as i wanted it be a happy ending...and by the time i finished reading....i realized, i was so attached to it that it felt as if it was happening all around me.

Me: Tell us about your Website?

Rishi: The website is www.rishivohra.com. It features excerpts, videos, articles, reviews, and other information about the book.

Me: i am sure all the readers and all those people who would want to take their hands on your Novel -'Once upon the tracks of Mumbai' would be glued to the site for details...

Me: What are your plans for the future?

Rishi : My second book is ready and has yet to be picked up for publication.

Me: We all are eagerly waiting for your next book and am sure readers would be itching to have the first look at your second book.

Me: Rishi, My final question to you...What more can we look forward to from you?

Rishi: You can look forward to books that are fast-paced, different from one another, and above all – entertaining!

Me: Am sure with the popularity and reputation you have built with your 1st book that is exactly what all readers would be expecting from you-  to be enthralled and entertained...!!!


Well...that comes to an end to an exciting interview ... am sure with those special insights, which  Rishi gave to us about his 1st book -'Once upon the tracks of Mumbai'...it would be an entirely new experience to all the readers as this was something that was beyond the book which i am sure every one of us would love to read ...!!!

Book Review: Once upon the tracks of Mumbai

Book:- Once upon the tracks of Mumbai

Author:- Rishi Vohra

ISBN:- 978-81-8495-305-3

Genre:- Fiction/Romantic

Price:- 175 (I got this book directly from the Author )

Pages:- 266

Publisher:- JAICO Publishing House

Introduction:- “ If  Normal People are Like this than it’s better to live in the footholds of being Aberrant.” Yes this is what I feel after going through ‘Once upon the tracks of Mumbai.’ Have you ever thought how a person with severe deficits of social interaction and communication whom we often term as Autistic leads his life when he is left alone without any affection from their family and closed ones…Forget about the extra care and tenderness which he requires, a person like him is doomed for his mere existence. Believe it or not but an autistic person are the ones who are selfless, pure and belong to nearly extinct species of the long lost word Humanity. Since we couldn’t understand their behavior we term as Psychotic, Schizophrenic or having a split personality disorder. This novel is all about a person with the above mentioned characteristics whom ‘We’ cater as abnormal, who had the dreams of making big into his Love and Life and in a way prove the words of fortuneteller true…Can a cursed person who is destined to meet failures in each forefront cope with his inadequacies and make his dream come true? This is for all the readers to find out…!!!

Cover Page:- The cover page entails you a lot about the title of the book –‘Once upon the tracks of Mumbai’,  with the backdrop of a local train in one of the rail tracks along with a couple who are about to kiss each other triggers enough nuances about the love story of a middle class person. Not only the cover page or the title, the story also presents a befitting amalgamation of the twirling story at hand worth reading.
About the Author: - Rishi Vohra recently relocated back to Mumbai after completing a Green MBA from San Francisco State University and a Masters Diploma in Environmental Law, prior to which he has had a successful career in the Indian entertainment Industry.
Having being a guest columnist for various newspapers in India, he currently writes for delWine and is a certified specialist of Wine. This is his first novel.
For more information, visit www.rishivohra.com
Compositional Report:-  Once upon the Tracks of Mumbai is all about the monotonous life Balwant Srivastav (or Babloo as he is commonly called) and his struggle to grapple against negligent family and indifferent society. Even after trying his best he could complete a 3 year college course in 6 years, failed to get a job thereafter and is condemned. No one is bothered about his problems, his feelings, his life or him…And he goes on about his life doing the daily chores clueless about his life or his future.  Only person who doesn’t make mockery of his inadequacies is Vandana Gupta… in fact the only person who treats him as human. Babloo could only communicate in monosyllables and would often remain silent even when he is with Vandana not because he is ill mannered or shrewd, he couldn’t understand what people are speaking about and is often left aloof with his inner soul in a questionnaire session which would soothe him at times.

Babloo’s simplicity and trusting nature led him to trust a crook Sikander who took advantage of his feelings towards Vandana and lure her in his lewd desires. Babloo thought of Sikander to be a true friend and considered his love life at safe hands. Babloo decided to concentrate on ways where he could be a hero on the eyes of Vandana and in the process met with an incident which turned him to be a hero overnight without revealing his identity. He came to the savior of Shoma Banerjee a reporter of MiD-DAY by saving her dignity from his rogue boyfriend Shamsher.  Thus ‘Rail man’ was born, a hero who serves for humanity.  Another incident where he saved a jeweler Patel, made him roll over the newspapers and talk of every household. Babloo by now realized, being a hero won’t serve his purpose he also has to become independent and thus joined as an office boy in his father’s railway office. Police thought the act of ‘Rail man’ as a dent to their pride and sought ways to trace ‘Rail Man’ and put him behind the bars to hide their inefficacy.

Vandana on the other hand was educated and was working in a private advertising Agency but was unhappy for the lascivious treatment from her boss and wanted to quit the job but the sheer feeling of her rather conservative family made her rut the rust. She had the dreams of going to America where she can be all by herself but destiny had something else to offer as her parents forced Vandana to quit job and were planning to tie knot with Babloo’s younger Brother Raghu who was doing good in Stock market. But then a series of incident not only indented her image to her future Mother in law breaking off with their alliance but also forced Vandana and her family to move out from their residence in Railway colony to their own flat. Babloo on the other hand was unaware of these happenings and when he did came to know about it…it was too late for him and Vandana left him saying he won’t be able to see her again even though Babloo spoke his heart to her.


The buildup of the climax to me was by far the best as Babloo set off for Sikander to punish him for his act. Then wrangle with Raghu in his house left Babloo clueless as what he should do next, he ran away to the railway tracks where ‘Rail Man’ came into existence but here also fate sidelined him and he found himself arrested. Police took their rage by beating him black and blue. At this very moment it seemed that everything was falling apart, Vandana left her, his heroism showed him to jail, His parents betrayed him and there was nothing left to look for him in future…but here comes the twist in the tale, the intriguing end makes it a story worth spending your money for.


Only lackluster part according to me was the beginning…it was too slow and the story seemed crawling but then if it were not a hurried ending it would have suited the flow. The ending though seemed to be a fairy tale but if it had ended any other way it would seem…Babloo’s life incomplete and it wouldn’t justify a soothing story. Overall with accurate depiction of characters, the locality, mentality and ubiquity of the story makes it a worth read.  It‘s a passionate story with a heart crunching end … A story of betrayal, hatred, Jealousy but at the end proved a fitting tale to –“All’s well when it ends well”, An end where we all want to start our life with.
 

Rating:- I would rate Rishi Vohra’s first novel 3.5 out of 5.

 Life Adjudication of the story:- This story is best read to break of the monosyllables of life. Though a fiction, it enforces us to aim big, to dream big and to give your best to achieve your dreams. It’s a stepping stone to bring about a positive change in your life.