Waited for the right time, says Chetan Bhagat

Bengaluru

“I just had to wait for the times to change before releasing this book,” remarked Indian author Chetan Bhagat during the ‘May–December: A Messed-Up Love Story’ afternoon session at the Bengaluru Literature Festival (BLF), where he was in conversation with author and journalist Prajwal Hegde. The discussion centred on Bhagat’s latest new-age romance, 12 Years: My Messed-Up Love Story, which follows an unconventional relationship between a 21-year-old woman from a conservative Jain family and a 33-year-old struggling stand-up comedian.

Bhagat shared that he spoke to several people and researched extensively to understand how society perceives age-gap relationships. “People might think, ‘this is so wrong,’ but that’s what makes the story compelling — we’re unsure where to place our moral judgement,” he said. While evolving social attitudes have made it easier to publish the book today, he acknowledged facing significant online criticism.

Bhagat said the novel draws heavily from Gen Z’s relationship culture, especially the idea of “situationships”. He highlighted the dilemmas many young people face — appearing bold and adventurous socially but remaining cautious at home, unwilling to challenge parental expectations. He explained that this influenced his choice of an orthodox Jain family background for the female protagonist.

One of the toughest aspects of writing the book, Bhagat revealed, was crafting the stand-up comedy sequences. “If the comedy didn’t land, the book wouldn’t work,” he said, adding that he had to study the craft closely to make the humour feel authentic. Expressing gratitude for not being confined to any single genre, Bhagat said he is happy that readers recognise his works simply as “Chetan Bhagat books”.

He also emphasised the importance of staying creatively open as a writer: even on days when he is not writing, he ensures his mind remains receptive to ideas. In conclusion, Bhagat noted that his priorities have shifted away from films and firmly back to books. With people still reading his work, he hopes to inspire more readers to choose literature over digital distractions and rediscover the joy of reading.