Shweta Bachchan's gift to father Amitabh Bachchan: launch of her debut book 'Paradise Towers'

Shweta Bachchan Nanda, who is drifting on euphoria with the successful launch of her label brand ‘MXS’ that happened a few days ago, is again on a run to make her next big debut. This time, Shweta is all set to launch her first novel 'Paradise Towers', which talks about everyday lives and is set in a backdrop of a Mumbai apartment. To top it up with cherry, the Amitabh Bachchan offspring will launch the novel on her father’s birthday eve on October 10.

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‘Paradise Towers’ is published by HarperCollins India, and is ballyhooed as “quirky, intimate debut that explores the intertwined lives in the building – a forbidden romance, an elopement, the undercurrents of tension in corridor interactions and explosive Diwali celebrations.”

Shweta reflects upon her childhood memories and says she has assembled those images in a book. Talking about Paradise Towers, the writer says, “I grew up with my grandfather who was a poet and a writer. Writing and reading was always a very important part of our lives. I’ve been writing a diary ever since I was a little girl, and wrote stories that I never shared with anyone.”

“Then, one day I just said, I am going to take this plunge. I started writing a column for a newspaper in Mumbai and it gave me a lot of confidence to go ahead and do this full time, and that’s where ‘Paradise Towers’ come from.”

The book features a character Dinesh who one day opens the door to the Kapoor flat to find Lata, the femme fatale who works at Mrs Aly Khan’s, holding a hot case with freshly made gaajar ka halwa.

While the scene sets, the nosy lady on the first floor, Mrs Mody wipes the dust off her treasured binoculars to snoop on the actions of building security guard.

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As the Singhs step out of their SUV, ever watchful daunting eyes of Mrs Ranganekar observe their actions. The newcomers, so-called outsiders of the flats stand near the SUV as their four boys create a ruckus.

Set in central Mumbai, Paradise Towers hold many stories of every tenant. Perhaps, more secrets to hide than stories to narrate!

Bollywood Filmmaker Karan Johar finds the book “observant, moving, hilarious and exceptionally astute”.

"Paradise Towers" is no slice of life", it's an entire loaf, he says, adding Shweta "builds" her debut novel with the ease of a literary veteran.

According to Shreya Punj, Assistant Editor at HarperCollins India, "Paradise Towers" is fresh, insightful and a story that will resonate with everyone.

"I fell in love with the story when I first read it. Now, 'Paradise Towers' is ready to meet its readers, and I cannot wait for people to fall in love with this quirky, intimate world Shweta has created," she says.

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