Mohan Deep

Mohan Deep
Mohan Deep
Born	Mohan Kishinchand Chandirramani
Nationality	Indian
Occupation	Author
Notable work(s)	Eurekha! – an unauthorized biography of Rekha Simply Scandalous: Meena Kumari It's My Life

Mohan Deep (born Mohan Kishinchand Chandirramani), is an Indian writer. He has written multiple books on Bollywood film personalities, including the books: The Mystery and Mystique of Madhubala, It's My Life (novel), Simply Scandalous: Meena Kumari, Eurekha! – an unauthorized biography of Rekha, etc.

Journalist Khushwant Singh, called him 'a truly gifted gossip writer', poet-columnist Tara Patel described him as a maverick writer,^[1] Behram Contractor referred to him as 'William Goldman of Bollywood's stars',^[2] and Rajiv. K. Bajaj, the editor of The Daily, labelled him the 'Kitty Kelley ^[3] of India'.

Early and personal life

Deep was born as Mohan Kishinchand Chandirramni and his family belonged to a Sindhi (Hyderabadi Aamil) family that migrated from Karachi (Sind) (now in Pakistan) in the wake of the partition. He spent his early life in Bombay's western suburbs, Kandivli.

He started as a short story writer and novelist in Sindhi when he was doing his schooling. His published work includes over 200 short stories, two novels namely Surg Munhje Baahun Mein (Heaven in My Arms) (1964) and Khaali Haath (Empty Hands) (1969), a collection of short stories entitled Parai Aurat (The Other Woman)(1970)and a collection of poems named Munhje Paachhe jo Hik Hisso (1972). He started writing in English after getting an honours degree in English literature from the University of Pune in 1974. He was actively associated with Sahitya Akademy. Popti Hiranadani, one of the foremost short story writer and critic said that,"Each of Mohan Deep's stories is a kind of probe into human nature. Mohan combines the art of writing modern story with psychological approach.^[4]

Literary career

Deep's first biography about Madhubala was The Mystery and Mystique of Madhubala, published by Magna Books. Outlook, a leading weekly, hailed the book about Madhubala.^[5] Former editor of The Illustrated Weekly of India and columnist and author M V Kamath described it as 'an excellent biography',^[6] and Debonair called it a commendable biography, also referring to the war between the two publishing houses.^[7] But, the biography created a storm in media and Bollywood. Never before had any Indian author written an unauthorized biography. Madhubala was an icon. While her admirers lapped up the book, the actress' family was aghast! Every "skeleton" from the family cupboard had been dragged out. The family, specially Madhubala's sister went out of their way to challenge his version. The family, described as Dehlavis by Mohan Deep, disputed the surname and insisted that they were respectable Khans. The author replied that the name on her grave, written in Urdu, was Mumtaz Jehan Begum Dehlavi.^[8] He had started his work by first visiting her mazaar. He wrote,

"Madhubala was Dehlavi and not Khan. But how does that matter? With her kind of success she outgrew these petty things, becoming her own identity. Everyone related to her, including her ancestors (and Madhur herself) earned their identity from Madhubala and if they want to give a fitting tribute to her they should get their surname changed to Madhubalavi."

At the time when Madhubala was released, a feud was going on between its publishers, Magna Publishing and Times Group. Times Group went out of their way to the book, reported independent political weekly Sunday.^[9] Simply Scandalous: Meena Kumari, his biography on Meena Kumari, published by Image Books, was loved by fans and media alike. It was serialized in Mumbai's Hindi daily 'Dopahar Ka Saamna'. As a part of a trilogy, in 1999, Deep then wrote Eurekha!, an unauthorized biography of Bollywood actress Rekha. Shivani Publications published it.

Film star and television anchor Shekhar Suman said at the launch of Eurekha! that, "Controversy is Mohan Deep's middle name!"^[11] while India premier society magazine Society described him as, "A man with a million controversies in his beard".^[12] Though people talk about Mohan Deep's trilogy of star biographies and he is considered the only Indian author to have written what are described as 'unauthorized biographies' and even 'demonisation' of Bollywood icons,^[13] he also wrote a novel, It's My Life (1997). While he was described as an author to watch,^[14] the conservative Indian media treated It's My Life not right for traditional Indian readers. The politics behind this became clear when columnist V Gangadhar exposed it in his weekly column.^[15] Like Madhubala, this too was published by Magna Books. Four Options (2000), his next, was a quiz book was published in the wake of Kaun Banega Crorepati, the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, a television serial anchored by Amitabh Bachchan. It was published by BookQuest. Next, Deep moved into a different genre; historical fiction. In 2002, he wrote Nehru and the Tantrik Woman. It was inspired by the revelations about the illegitimate child of the first prime minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, by his private secretary M. O. Mathai. The play was set in 1975-77 when, then-prime minister Indira Gandhi had imposed emergency rule in India. The censor board for the theater refused to give permission to stage the play, even after a stormy meeting between the author and the board members. The script was published as a book by Image Books with the same title, "Nehru and the Tantrik Woman".^[16] but never staged. His next was a different theme: Feng Shui. Feng Shui for the Bold and Beautiful, the Rich and Famous was published in 2001. It was launched by Bollywood star Ajay Devgn,^[17] who had consulted him after the debacle of his home production Raju Chacha. His latest work The Five Foolish Virgins (2013) is a novel. ‘The Five Foolish Virgins’,a fictional take on the glamorous world of cinema, has all the ingredients of a Bollywood potboiler. From casting couch,bisexual superstars to an actor having underworld connection, Mohan Deep’s novel explores the underbelly of Bollywood and Media.^[18] The reviewers loved the book.If Sumeetha Manikadan, a novelist herself said that she wished the novel was longer ^[19] someone else called it a 'must read'^[20]. Farida.balsara (talk) 07:39, 8 February 2014 (UTC)

Bibliography

Other activities

Besides writing, Mohan Deep was into painting and oriental philosophy. Much before Feng Shui became popular in India, he had started experimenting with the ancient oriental philosophy and science of Geomancy. Seeing that it was working well he shared the knowledge with some Bollywood stars and Indian politicians. This, along with his talent for painting, steered him into a new direction. Feng Shui became his new passion. He started painting Feng Shui symbols and icons. Calling it a sabbatical Mohan Deep and became a Feng Shui Master in 2001.^[21]

Deep sat on the Censor Board. He was also the editor of an English news-weekly "Suvidha Express" for over two years and then moved to edit and write for filmtvindia.com, a Bollywood related web site.^[22]

References

Citations

Sources

1. Outlook India: http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?201688
2. Hindustan Times: http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/specials/proj_tabloid/inspired.shtml
3. India Today: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/mohan-deeps-book-eurekha-reveals-all-about-bollywood-actress-rekha/1/243255.html
4. Cinetalkies on Rekha: http://www.cinetalkies.co.za/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=388:rekha&Itemid=137
5. Highbeam Research: "Rekha dismisses biography as false", 3 March 2000.

External links

• Official website
• Fengshui website