For Vrindavan-born Uddhav Kanhai, creativity is in his genes. He grew up in a room full of artists where creativity was the aura. His grandfather, Kanhai Chitrakar was awarded ‘Padmashree’ for his contribution to the world of art, while his father, Govind Kanhai, is also a renowned artist with many accolades. When Uddhav went to Mumbai to pursue his graduation in Bachelor of Management Studies, he discovered his passion in sophomore. He channelized his creativity when he saw an urge to fill an empty paper, not with the figures but with figures of speech. Soon words became his friends and Uddhav started writing poetry in English and Hindi.
Currently, Uddhav works as an assistant writer for a daily soap and has a passion for open mic poetry. With three novels in different genres, his first published novel #Jokerstash is a suspense thriller with complicated characters and a spellbinding plot, which was recently launched by Bollywood actress Hema Malini. At the launch, she said, “When I see youth coming up with new concepts I feel happier. Uddhav Kanhai’s debut Novel #Jokerstash is very absorbing. The book cover excites me more, as I see him transforming his canvas painting into his very own debut book cover.” In a quick chat with TMM, the budding writer talks about his love for writing, painting, and his future plans.
How did you land up in the world of writing?
This was never a pre-planned thing. I never dreamt of being a writer. I never wrote anything when I was in school. But things changed when I reached Mumbai. I started reading novels and words became my friend. There came a time when I started carrying novels in my college bag instead of college books. In sophomore, I first time opened my notes and scribbled a line. I loved that thought came back home, and wrote a full poem on it. That’s when it started.
How did you come up with the concept of your book?
In 2019, I got this idea. I was in Mumbai and those days there was news of some hacker. Just then I felt like writing about technology and hacking. I sat down and wrote a vague idea. Then I kept it aside, but somewhere in my subconscious mind it was alive and breathing. In late October, I picked it up again and made some changes, and in November I wrote the entire first draft. From time to time I kept on editing and rewriting. It took 8 drafts and 18 months to finally present it to the world.
What should the reader be excited to read in the book?
This book is written keeping in mind contemporary needs. It includes technology, social media, influencers, hackers, heists, money, power, and more. The readers will feel the suspense from the beginning of the book. The thrilling part will keep their grip on the story. I hope the readers will keep turning pages one after the other until it is finished.
How did you blend your passion for writing and painting?
Painting is something I am gifted to me by my family. I think painting runs in the genes. The beautiful legacy of Kanhai art resides in me. I feel honoured to be a third-generation artist along with my elder brothers Chaitanya Kanhai (an actor), Parth Kanhai (an international painter), and my sister Parijaat Kanhai (a painter and jewellery designer) through whom the legacy continues. But there was a more powerful calling from the pen than from the brush. Writing is what takes me to a different world, where I live in different characters and thought processes. When I start writing the contentment I get is peerless. In this context, for me, the pen is mightier than the brush. With this novel, I wanted the world to know me as a writer and a painter. Hence, I made the painting of the cover and I am going to paint my every book cover in the future too.
Where do you see yourself moving from here onwards?
I wish I could tell but I can only guess. I see myself somewhere in the history of writers. I see myself entertaining my readers with new concepts and my imaginations. I have written four novels till now and hope to continue writing till eternity. This is my debut novel and I am planning to release my second novel very soon. I also see myself as an accomplished screenwriter.
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