From tracking crime to writing on it..

Was the choice to write a racy thriller deliberate?Frankly, I don't know. I have never been too fond of thrillers as a genre myself and hardly ever read them. Not only people around me, but I am myself surprised at the choice of both genre and style (laughs). Serious non-fiction which sets one thinking is more my taste. But I guess the book was in me.In Quantum Siege, the prime minister of the country is threatened by the Lashkar-e-Taiba with a nuclear attack on Mumbai. Isn't that too fanciful?One cannot discount the history of geo-strategic equations in the subcontinent. Now that both India and Pakistan have nuclear capability, this has to become factored into any discussion or dispute. Most situations in the novel are quite realistic. There have been certain terror groups that are a threat to the country. One was simply going by existing conditions as they are. True, this is a work of fiction, but as a police officer, one is privy to how finely entangled wires can sometimes be between seemingly local crime and international terror networks.You wrote the 252-page book in two months?Yes. The deal came through and I had a two-month deadline. I would write daily between 12 and 3 a.m. Many people ask me if it wouldn't have been easier to take a break and write, but that is not how I work. As a police officer, multitasking comes with the territory. So immersing oneself in a task, being oblivious to everything around for a while and then going to something completely different is now second nature. I think that's what helped me write the book in such a short span. Moreover, once I began writing the story, it took off on its own.My only concern was keeping it real and closest to the actual. Particularly when people are interacting with the prime minister or the foreign offices and agencies that communicate with each other.How much of the protagonist Rudra Pratap Singh is based on your own experiences?While one doesn't set out consciously trying to base a character on oneself, I will admit many have said they found resonances. With the city under siege and Lashkar giving an ultimatum for a referendum to be declared on Kashmir within three days, Rudra Pratap who has been appointed to locate the bomb and culprits is under a lot of stress.I wanted to bring to light the other side of the cops that is unknown to many. People never understand the kind of pressure we work under and the many pressures from within and without one deals with in the event of a crisis. The media too contributes to this stress and anxiety.As for characters inspired from real life in Quantum Siege, it's not just me, there are several others. Even if I don't name them, I am sure people in the police force and those who interact with them regularly can make out some of the more quintessential nuances (laughs) that I have imbued the characters with.With superstar Amitabh Bachchan releasing the book and the veritable who's who from Bollywood in attendance, the launch was quite grand. What do you feel about star-studded launches and promotions that have become part of being published?Well, I have always enjoyed a good rapport with many in the film fraternity. I have sat through narrations on scripts and story when they have approached me, especially in films dealing with police. It was gracious of Mr Bachchan to have agreed to launch my book. By the way, there's a character in the book who reminds me a lot of him.True, some of my friends said it was unnecessary to have such a grand launch and were surprised I was doing this, since it's just not my style. However, in the times that we live in, even the most phenomenal work I write will hardly make a splash unless a buzz is created. So the launch helped in that. But this can be counterproductive unless the book is genuinely good. Thankfully, Quantum Siege continues to do well.No wonder you've been getting so many feelers from Bollywood already for film rights.That's right. Some Bollywoodwallahs even wanted me to sign their book copies at the launch giving them film rights. I can see the cinematic appeal in the racy plot that unravels over a mere two-and-a-half days. It will undoubtedly feel good to see one's work on screen. But let's see how it all works out.Will your next book be a sequel to Quantum Siege?I really don't know about a sequel anytime soon. But there is another book I have written which is in the genre of fictionalised history. I'm in the middle of giving it the final touches. The book looks at a period between 260 BC with the Kalinga war and 185 BC when the Mauryan Empire came to an end. This has been the equivalent of several PhDs researching battle formations, flora and fauna, cross referencing historical details and extensive travelling. But it's something that fascinates me. I am hoping that readers also like it.