Chetan Bhagat's shares his insights on career choices, his latest book 11 Rules For Life, AI and more.
Picture this: A well-lit room, the air thick with anticipation. Across the table sits Chetan Bhagat, celebrated author, and master of storytelling. His eyes twinkle with mischief, ready to unravel the threads of creativity and share his tale of career heists. The setting? The 8th edition of the Global Business Summit in New Delhi’s Taj Mahal Palace.
Let’s dive into this unconventional interview, where words dance like fireflies and ideas take flight. This piece is a rendered version of the original video interview.
Q. You recently collaborated with ed-tech platform Henry Harvin Education, playing a quirky inspector for their campaign. What was the reason and what message you wanted to convey?
They didn’t choose just any brand ambassador; they picked me—it was an unexpected choice. But why settle for the mundane? We wanted to break free from the usual ‘do this, take that course’ narrative. Boring, right? Instead, we decided to go bonkers.
They said that I needed to portray a Delhi police inspector with ink-stained fingers, dreaming of becoming a writer. This officer’s heart yearns for words, not badges.
Now, if I played this cop wrong, the whole brand would wobble like a tipsy toddler. But we did it anyway.
Our message? Life isn’t about ticking boxes or chasing paychecks. The idea was to reach out to people and tell them that one should always live a life where you examine your career choices. It’s about finding your groove, your passion. Are you in the right job? Does it spark joy? Forget the glossy brochures; listen to your gut. Happiness trumps everything—even the fanciest job title.
Q: So, you’re nudging folks to follow their heartstrings?
I have always been saying that since 3 Idiots. It’s not just the fresh-faced graduates who grapple with career choices. Folks in their late forties, fifties, sipping chai and pondering life’s grand puzzle. They’ve made some dough, but now they’re like, “What next?” And guess who they turn to? Yours truly. “Chetan, what should I do?” they ask, eyes wide like saucers.
Q. What about you. Are you contemplating something new yourself?
I always am. I’ve got my fingers in many pies. Motivation, —that’s my latest flavor. My upcoming book, “11 Rules For Life,” isn’t your run-of-the-mill saga. It’s a compass for navigating career twists, health turns, and relationship rollercoasters. It’s a book that is different from the love stories or the typescript that I have been known for.
I felt this book was the need of the hour. The youth need this more than entertainment.
When I started writing, boredom was the villain. Now? Well, there’s a buffet of entertainment—movies, series, memes, reels. But amidst the noise, something’s amiss. People are clueless about how to live their lives. If you don’t try new things, you will stagnate and not feel good.
Q. You’ve also been vocal about societal and political issues and have not hesitated to put forward your thoughts. How do you balance your views, more so knowing that you have a following and it can backfire?
It’s tough. I used to think that people will appreciate, and I think a lot of people do appreciate that I really speak my mind. And I try my best to not align 100% to one side. It’s not what a writer should do. But if I like a certain thing, I’ll praise it. And if I don’t like it, I will say it too. But largely I have started to stay positive.
But there are readers of mine who read my books, but if I praise or comment on something they don’t like it. They tell me “Chetan, don’t’ talk about politics.”
It’s sometimes a struggle for me to balance those two. If I want to maximize my fan following, then I must keep saying nice things about the world. It’s like what they say in America, ‘motherhood and apple pie.’
I always try to share my thoughts and let people know it’s fine to have different opinions. I’m interested in hearing views that are different from mine, not because I think I’m always right and they’re wrong, but because they might have insights I haven’t considered. Unfortunately, there’s not much dialogue like this nowadays, especially on social media where people tend to stick to their own agenda. We live in a country where both sides exist, and it’s important to coexist peacefully.
There are people like me who are trying to be that bridge—and in turn get ‘hit’ by both sides (laughs).
Q. Here at the Global Business Summit (GBS), we’re using the hashtag #ScriptingATomorrow. How are you working on planning for the future?
Well, my career is all about writing and scripting things. I’ve always believed in adaptation. Whether it’s writing books, making movies, or hosting podcasts, I keep adapting to new things.
I’m here at the GBS today because it’s crucial for everyone, no matter how skilled or intelligent they are, to adapt quickly to changes. I’m not sure how AI will change things in a few years. Maybe we won’t even be sitting here; our avatars might be! It’s a bit extreme, but it makes you wonder what we’ll do next, right? I’ll do something that AI can’t.
