Mohan Deep

Mohan Deep (born Mohan Kishinchand Chandirramani in 1948), is an Indian writer.[1][2] 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 unauthorised biography of Rekha, etc. In recent years, he has focused on writing fiction. Two of his novels are The Five Foolish Virgins (2013) [3] and Color Me Rich (2016) [4]

Mohan Deep
Mohan Deep
Born
Mohan Kishinchand Chandirramani

1948 (age 72–73)
Agra
NationalityIndian
OccupationAuthor
Notable work
Eurekha!: An Unauthorised Biography of Rekha
Simply Scandalous: Meena Kumari
It's My Life
"The Five Foolish Virgins" (Fiction
"Color Me Rich" ( Fiction)

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. His works are known for their psychological approach.[5]

Literary career

Deep's first biography about Madhubala was The Mystery and Mystique of Madhubala, published by Magna Books.[6][7][8] The family, specially Madhubala's sister, opposed the book. The family, described as Dehlavis by Mohan Deep, disputed the surname and insisted that they were Khans. The author countered that the name on her grave, written in Urdu, was Mumtaz Jehan Begum Dehlavi.[9]

At the time when Madhubala was released, there was competition between publishers Magna Publishing and Times Group. Times Group was very critical of the book.[10] 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 wrote Eurekha!, an unauthorized biography of Bollywood actress Rekha, with Shivani Publications. This, too, was controversial.[11][12]

Mohan Deep is best known as the only Indian author to have written what are described as 'unauthorised biographies,[13] he also wrote a novel, It's My Life (1997).

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 theatre 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".[14] but never staged.

His next was an entirely 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.[15]

The Five Foolish Virgins (2013) was a novel. 'The Five Foolish Virgins', is a fictional take on the world of cinema.[16] Color Me Rich (2016) was the tenth book, and the 3rd novel of the author.[17]

Bibliography
TitleYearGenrePublisherISBN
Color Me Rich2016NovelQuest MercuryISBN 9788192678528
The Five Foolish Virgins2013NovelQuest MercuryISBN 9788192678504
Nehru & Tantrik Woman2002Historical fictionImage BooksISBN 9788190109253
Feng Shui for the Bold & Beautiful, the Rich & Famous2001Non-fictionTristar PublicationsISBN 9788190107914
Four Options2000Quiz BookBook Quest PublishersISBN 9788186025109
Eurekha (An Unauthorised biography of Rekha)1999BiographyShivani PublicationsNA
Simply Scandalous: Meena Kumari1998BiographyImage BooksNA
It's My Life1997NovelMagna PublicationsNA
Madhubala1996BiographyMagna PublicationsNA
The Silhouettes1983Non-fictionNimma PublicationsNA

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. Mohan Deep and became a Feng Shui Master in 2001.[18]

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.[19]

References
Citations
  1. Patel, Tara (1998). "Maverick Writer". Afternoon on Sunday (17 May 1998): 6.
  2. Contractor, Behram (6 April 1998). "Eurekha". Afternoon Despatch & Courier.
  3. http://indianexpress.com/tag/the-five-foolish-virgins/
  4. http://www.asianage.com/books/rags-riches-989
  5. Hiranandani, Prof. Popati (1984). History of Sindhi Literature. Mumbai: Sahitya Dhara. p. 189.
  6. "Indiscreet Liaisons | Saira Menezes". Outlookindia.com. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  7. Kamath, M V (26 May 1996). "Analysis". The Daily.
  8. Debonair. June 1996. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  9. Deep, Mohan (June 1996). "Madhubala's Publicity Hungry Sister". The Daily. Low Life.
  10. Akbar, M J (5 August 1996). Sunday. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  11. Mohan, Kumar (25 December 1998). "Party Repartee". Complete Cinema: 5.
  12. "Champgne Shots". Society (Magna Publishers). May 1998.
  13. Pillai, Jitesh (26 July 1998). "Book, Line and Stinker". Sunday Times / Culture Curry.
  14. "New Straits Times - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  15. Padukone, Chaitanya (26 July 2001). "Chalomumbai". Midday.
  16. "About". The Indian Express. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  17. "Shirish Kunder to launch Kindle edition of 'Color Me Rich'". The Indian Express. 7 January 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  18. Bhagwagar, Dale (September 2001). "2.9.2001". Jam-E-Jamshed.
  19. Vakil, Ashwina (July 1994). "Out Now". Island.
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.
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