I did not predict its success: Slumdog Millionaire author

Sharjah - Vikas Swarup also ruled out writing a sequel for the acclaimed novel 'Q & A' that was made into the blockbuster film

Vikas Swarup, the multi award-winning fiction writer and current Indian High Commissioner to Canada, has no intention to write a sequel to Q & A, the acclaimed novel that was adapted into the blockbuster film Slumdog Millionaire.
The past few years have been quite hectic for the author and diplomat, but he is averse to rehashing the old characters from Q & A.
Swarup, speaking to Khaleej Times on the sidelines of the Sharjah International Book Fair 17' (SIBF), said that the book's characters had been well-fleshed out and met the right ending. "I wrote the book in the last two months of my posting in London, and I wrote it without expecting any success," he said.
Swarup believes that it was undoubtedly a very fresh idea then. "The story of an 18-year-old waiter in an IT firm in Mumbai, participating in a television game show was fresh. But the success that followed, I did not predict." He also said that when an author re-visits an old book, it could sometimes mean that he or she has a dearth of ideas, and as an author, there should never be any shortage of ideas.
The author-diplomat has not written a book since 2013. "The Accidental Apprentice, my last book, released in 2013 and I haven't worked on anything since," he said. However, Swarup hopes that Canada will inspire him eventually, as it is a beautiful country. "I've been quite busy focusing on Indian-Canadian bilateral relations, and I've honestly had no time to sit down and work on a book," he said.
Swarup also said that he would not attempt to write a non-fiction work, as "it would sell two and a half copies. When I have the freedom to explore characters creatively, and in some cases kill off a character or two, I wouldn't want to spend that time writing a non-fiction book," he joked.
SIBF '17 is Swarup's first outing at the book fair. "The fair has been an eye-opener. It attracts millions of people from around the globe, and I've been able to meet many people from the publishing industry. It is a great meeting point that brings together publishers, authors, and readers together. I even ended up meeting a lot of people who'd worked with me on Q & A," he said. Swarup also praised the book fair for its attempt to attract younger crowds. "It is great to see so many young people at the fair. If the youth engage with the world of books, ideas and the written word, we can be sure that we're heading towards a bright future," he said.
dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com

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• Sharjah International Book Fair