I like writing about sex: Tanveer Bookwala

Deliciously unputdownable, is how Ekta Kapoor describes Tanveer Bookwala’s book Wet, a collection of seven sensual stories, set in a wild world of sex. The former Chief Creative Officer of Balaji Motion Pictures, who describes his debut as the ‘Gotham city of Sex’, tells us about his process of writing. “The only way to keep viewers engaged on TV is by offering them a very personal experience that is relatable and identifiable. I’ve tried to do that with this book and with all of my writing in general. If I can bring you in with a bang (pun intended, obviously) and keep you there, I’ve succeeded,” says the 36-year-old author. Excerpts from a conversarion:

Was writing a book on your agenda for a long time?  

This is an interesting story in itself. During my stint at Balaji Motion Pictures, we decided to make a movie called XXX (unreleased). The idea was to have a smart, new age, date movie with tons of sex and humour, that was both urban and cool. I started writing a few stories for it. Some of them, we deemed “unfilmable” for a variety of reasons. But the stories stayed with me and I really wanted to tell them. I sent some of them to my friend and fellow author Madhuri Banerjee, who read it and loved it. She sent it to Penguin. And four drinks and four starters at Bungalow 9, later, I had a book deal. And I have to say that writing a book is far more therapeutic than writing a screenplay.

Is this semi-porn? 

Let me tell you right up front that this isn’t a book about a leaking tap or a satire on a dry state (actually, maybe it is). The difference between pornography and erotica is usually the lighting. This, is lit, I’d like to believe, with some wicked words. The idea was to build a world where characters feel each other up with their hands and knock each other down with their words. If it makes you uncomfortable, or leaves you disturbed, it has only done its job. These stories vibrating with eroticism, black humour, romance, crime and passion are set in a contemporary and believable world where attractive people do decidedly unattractive things. It’s the Gotham city of Sex.

Are these stories meant to titillate or terrify? 

The stories are meant to turn you on. Not all of them are terrifying, per se. In fact, almost all of them have my trademark humour. The stories are steamy and sordid chronicling S&M, voyeurism, fetish, fantasy, supernatural and wild consensual sex that come with shocking twists at the end of them all. There is also an epilogue that connects this lacerating seven-chapter suite. Reading it should be like sitting on a roller coaster or watching a horror movie, the thrills should evoke a Basic Instinct.  

Neha Dhupia had once famously said, only sex and SRK sell. Is that true in writing as well? 

Not at all. A good story will sell. I just happen to like writing about sex.

In an earlier interview, you said that in movies, it’s the script and the director who are the stars. What are the stars when it comes to writing? 

Story. Story. Story. There is and never will be another star. In fact, even with the movies, there has been a correction in the market. The script is the star. Much like the story. International best sellers such as Harry Potter and Fifty Shades of Grey came from unknown people, without any frills and fancies. What adds, of course, is visibility and push from a publisher, so people know your work is out there.

What are the other genres you would like to explore in your future books? 

I love horror. It’s my most favourite genre of them all. I also enjoy Sci-Fi. I’d also love to explore modern chick-lit and romance. I’m bipolar like that. I like stories with slow dancing as much as I enjoy stories with slow poisoning. I enjoy writing stories that are quirky and a little wrong. I’m writing a ton of material for digital and feature films as we speak and have signed on two more books, tentatively titled HorreX and FutureX, that take horror and sci-fi to the next level.

Would you like to see these stories turned into movies? Is there any particular story you think would make for a great movie? 

Most of this is unfilmable for a mainstream feature film and changing and chopping will be losing the essence. On the bright side, we are stepping into a sparkling new digital area and I’m happy to say that I am already in advanced talks to turn this into a sexy anthology for one of India’s biggest digital platforms.