HarperCollins India is proud to announce the acquisition of Dopehri: A Novel by PANKAJ KAPUR

HarperCollins India
is proud to announce the acquisition of
Dopehri: A Novel
by
PANKAJ KAPUR

HarperCollins Publishers India is thrilled to announce that it has acquired the publishing rights to celebrated actor Pankaj Kapur’s debut novel Dopehri.

Originally written in Hindi, Dopehri will be published simultaneously by HarperCollins in 2019 in three editions: Hindi (in Devanagari script), Hindi (in Urdu script) and in English translation.

Dopehri tells the story of Amma Bi, an elderly widow who lives alone in her deserted family haveli in Lucknow, and her relationship with Sabiha, a young woman she takes in as a lodger. Full of old-world charm, redolent with the fragrance of small-town India, and utterly authentic in its language, Dopehri is a book that will stay with readers for a long time.

An immensely popular stage show performed by Pankaj Kapur, Dopehri will soon celebrate its 50th performance. The short novel, written in Hindi by Pankaj Kapur and published in Hindi and in English, will bring this poignant and powerful story to readers everywhere.

Pankaj Kapur said: ‘I am delighted that HarperCollins India will be publishing my novel Dopehri later this year. I will wait eagerly to see how readers react to this book which is very close to my heart.’

Rahul Soni, Senior Commissioning Editor at HarperCollins India, who acquired Dopehri for publication, said: ‘Pankaj Kapur is a born storyteller, and he brings a raconteur’s flair to the telling of this heart-warming, life-affirming tale of finding companionship and purpose in the unlikeliest places. Dopehri reveals a compelling new side to the legendary actor.’

Udayan Mitra, Publisher – Literary at HarperCollins India, added: ‘For many years we have admired Pankaj Kapur as one of the most accomplished actors that we have. With Dopehri, readers will discover a new side to Pankaj ji’s extraordinary talent: that of a truly exceptional writer. Dopehri is an absolute delight to read, and we at HarperCollins are very excited to bring this wonderful book to Hindi and English readers.’

About DOPEHRI:

Amma Bi is an elderly widow who lives alone in her deserted family haveli in Lucknow. Her only companion is a dishevelled young servant who comes in twice a day. Every afternoon, Amma Bi hears the sound of footsteps on the stairs and her heart fills with panic. Every afternoon, she peeks out the door but no one is there. After considering a move to an old peoples’ home, the anxious Amma Bi ends up taking in a lodger, a young woman named Sabiha, with a mysterious occupation and a winsome personality. When Sabiha’s secret is revealed, Amma Bi discovers reserves of ingenuity, skill and love she never knew she had, and what started out as the tale of a haunted haveli turns into a heart-warming one about ageing, self-discovery and female bonding.

In Dopheri, his very first novel, Pankaj Kapur emerges as a storyteller of great charm, keen observation, subtle humour and quiet power.

About PANKAJ KAPUR:

Pankaj Kapur is a renowned Indian theatre, television and film actor.

  About HARPERCOLLINS INDIA

HarperCollins India is a subsidiary of HarperCollins Publishers. HarperCollins India publishes some of the finest writers from the Indian subcontinent and around the world, publishing approximately 200 new books every year, with a print and digital catalogue of more than 2000 titles across 10 imprints. HarperCollins India authors have won almost every major literary award including the Man Booker Prize, the DSC Prize, the New India Foundation Award, the Atta Galatta Prize, the Shakti Bhatt Prize, the Publishing Next Award, the Sahitya Akademi Award and the Crossword Book Award. HarperCollins India also represents some of the finest publishers in the world including Oneworld, Bonnie Zaffre, Usborne, Dover and Lonely Planet.  HarperCollins India is also the only publisher to have been awarded the Publisher of the Year Award three times: at Publishing Next in 2015, and at Tata Literature Live! in 2016 and 2018.

Please send any enquires to Akriti Tyagi, HarperCollins India: Akriti.Tyagi@harpercollins.co.in