Candid confessions of a modern-day princess

The risk with memoirs is that at times, they can read like hagiographies. The author can get so immersed in chronicling his or her journey that quite often readers are relegated to the sidelines. However, Soha Ali Khan’s debut book The Perils of being Moderately Famous is a refreshing change. The actress-turned-author admits nonchalantly that she is neither competing with her family members nor is she insecure about them being more famous and successful than her. In fact, she revels in their glory and charts out their achievements with aplomb. She does this in a matter-of-fact way without sounding didactic or patronising.

While the initial chapters are dedicated to her parents, in the latter half of the book she talks about her life. She focuses on the illustrious lineage of her parents — the begums of Bhopal and Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. Rather than painting them in broad brush strokes, she charts their achievements, trials and tribulations. Soha writes about her paternal grandfather with admiration and her maternal grandmother, who defied norms and believed in living life on her own terms.

What makes the book a delightful read is Soha’s self-deprecating humour that is a recurring motif.  Whether it’s penning her experiences of studying at Balliol College in Oxford University or working at CitiBank, making a foraying in films, falling in love with husband Kunal Kemmu, tying the knot and turning a mother, she offers the reader witty repartees. Also, this is a rare piece that gives an up, close and personal look about her father Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi. One might assume that for a man, who hailed from an aristocratic family, he might be someone who couldn’t live without the luxuries of life. But Soha paints a poignant picture of him and reveals how he always reminded her and her siblings about saving electricity, ensured that they were grounded and adjusted themselves to all kind of surroundings. It also has several beautiful pictures of her childhood, moments spent with her family and snapshots of her wedding that capture the various phases of her life wonderfully. A light, breezy read, The Perils of being Moderately Famous is unlike any other memoir.

Price & Publisher: Rs 299, Penguin Books