WRITING UNAUTHORISED BIOGRAPHIES WAS UNNERVING, BUT IT ALSO GAVE ME A SENSE OF FREEDOM, WHICH COMES WITH A HUGE AMOUNT OF RESPONSIBILITY

Priyanka, Shashi Kapoor and Irrfan Khan – were unauthorised, although that is not how I initially approached the projects.

Shashi was seriously unwell when I began writing Shashi Kapoor: The Householder, the Star. So, there was no way I could get his permission. But at least I was able to interview two of his children – Sanjana and Kunal.

It was a different situation when I wrote Irrfan Khan: The subjects of the books did not control the narratives. I was free to explore their lives on my own terms.

But that freedom also comes with a huge amount of responsibility. If I decide to write about a particular actor, I have to first respect that person, care for her or his successes and struggles. And I would not gloat over the person’s failures or write malicious gossip. I am not that kind of writer.

And so, I approached the books as celebrations of the three actors. In attempting to track their lives and works, I wanted the readers to learn more about their films, how for the book to be published. When I approached Naseeruddin Shah for an interview for the Irrfan biography, he wrote back: “Irrfan is a dear friend and great actor. I’d like to talk about him.”

But there were also exceptions and disappointments. Girish Karnard who had directed Utsav for Shashi Kapoor wrote this to me: “While Utsav was being made or since the day it was released, I have not said a word about my experience of making the film or of Shashi as a producer and actor, preferring to let him have his say. I should like to continue the arrangement.” There was nothing I could do to convince him to change his mind.

Then there was the stress of acquiring photographs for the books. I was fortunate to get some rare images of Shashi Kapoor from director James Ivory when I met him in New York. Shashi looks like a handsome prince in those images.

But after the Irrfan biography was published I discovered some amazing photos of him on Instagram during the shoot of Asif Kapadia’s The Warrior. But it was too late and I regret not being able to share them with the readers.