From unconventional roles in Indian parallel cinema to writing dark poetry and short stories, the actor and author Deepti Naval's observations of her surroundings and her ability to extract from experiences attest to her intrepid disposition. The 56-year-old actor, who began her career in films in 1977, has been pursuing her passion for the written word for a long time, scribbling personal thoughts, which she compiled into two poetry titles – Lamha Lamha in 1981 and Black Wind in 2004. Her fictional book, The Mad Tibetan: Stories From Then and Now, was published in 2011. Naval will be reading from her collections at the Sharjah International Book Fair on Wednesday.
How did the idea to write short stories come about?
There were so many ideas floating around in my head that could not be conveyed through poems. Sometimes you need to share an entire experience through elaboration and go into the nitty-gritty that you can only do through fiction. I have been writing, jotting them down in notes over a period of time. A publisher friend suggested I do a series of short stories, so I took my little scribblings and came up with 11 stories.
What influences your writing?
Real stuff. Things that touch you, that disturb you. Even my short stories have come out of real experiences – either my own or people close to me. My writing has changed with my experiences. My first book Lamha Lamha is hugely romantic and indulges in the feeling of romance and loneliness. Later, when I go through the harder side of life – all that is encapsulated in my next book Black Wind. The Mad Tibetan then puts together all that I have been wanting to say. The titles itself will tell you where the journey has taken me.
How are intense topics in your writing received?
It is sometimes difficult to make people appreciate that kind of writing. People shy away from dark writing. I personally think darkness is as much a part of life as sunshine and moonlight. I am not ashamed or embarrassed about what I feel and think about. Black Wind had a mixed reception, in that some people could not grasp what I wanted to say.
Do books still have a place among the clutter of technology and social media?
The youth is reading less, as they prefer visual mediums. But there are people who still read books. It is so personal to have one and interpret it. Each book means something different to each person – and the world you can create. You attach imagery from your own imagination.
How do you revive that interest in the youth?
Audio books are the best way of reaching out to the younger generation. They can hear what you write while driving or doing chores about the house. It is a good way of getting their attention.
This is not your first time in the UAE. What are you looking forward to on this trip?
I like the idea of having an audience for whom I will be reading my poems and short stories. I had first come to UAE in the 1980s to shoot for a Pakistani director. At the time, Sharjah was a fledgling with a few buildings and an expanse of sand. I came here last year to shoot for another film and noticed such a big change. I hope to interact with the reading community there.
aahmed@thenational.ae
• Deepti Naval will be at the Sharjah International Book Fair on Wednesday for a book signing and to talk about her work. For more information, visit www.sharjahbookfair.com
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