Desperately Seeking Shah Rukh : India's Lonely Young Women and the Search for Intimacy and Independence

By Shrayana Bhattacharya

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About the book

In this pathbreaking work, Shrayana Bhattacharya maps the economic and personal trajectories–the jobs, desires, prayers, love affairs and rivalries–of a diverse group of women. Divided by class but united in fandom, they remain steadfast in their search for intimacy, independence and fun. Embracing Hindi film idol Shah Rukh Khan allows them a small respite from an oppressive culture, a fillip to their fantasies of a friendlier masculinity in Indian men. Most struggle to find the freedom-or income-to follow their favourite actor.

Bobbing along in this stream of multiple lives for more than a decade-from Manju’s boredom in ‘rurban’ Rampur and Gold’s anger at having to compete with Western women for male attention in Delhi’s nightclubs, to Zahira’s break from domestic abuse in Ahmedabad-Bhattacharya gleans the details on what Indian women think about men, money, movies, beauty, helplessness, agency and love. A most unusual and compelling book on the female gaze, this is the story of how women have experienced post-liberalization India.

Pages: 464

Available in:

Language: English

Shrayana Bhattacharya

Shrayana Bhattacharya trained in development economics at Delhi University and Harvard University. Since 2014, in her role as an economist at a multilateral development bank, she has focused on issues related to social policy and jobs. Prior to this, she worked on research projects with the Centre for Policy Research, SEWA Union and Institute of Social Studies Trust. Her writing has appeared in the Indian Express, EPW, Indian Quarterly and The Caravan. She lives in New Delhi.“

How many books do you know that effortlessly navigate Shah Rukh Khan’s movies, recent economic theories, data on jobs, juicy gossip about the peculiarities of Delhi playboys, sociological narratives and a deep dive into the love-lives of young Indian women? This intelligent, charming and quirky book, an illuminating portrait of the dire state of gender relations in contemporary India, does all that and more. Read it. - Prof Abhijit Banerjee, Nobel Laureate for Economics, Author of Poor Economics, FT Business Book of the Year

I loved the protagonist in this book, and I can identify myself with her. That is the brilliance, depth and concern that Shrayana covers , reveals and understands. Shrayana is both, mocking at us, the class and gender she represents as well as explaining our challenges. While it is a feminist book it is also an intellectual discourse covering, gender, class, social norms and the unforgettable Shah Rukh Khan. Being a fan myself , I felt in sympathy with the protagonist. Welcome to a brilliant new writer; I felt overwhelmed by her genius, the writing reminded me of Ruth Jhabvala who dissected as well as gave beautiful glimpses of Indian society in her books. - Prof Devaki Jain, Padma Bhushan winner for contributions to social justice, feminist-economics and women's empowerment. Author of The Brass Notebook

The personal and professional lives of Indian women across social classes come alive in these gripping stories anchored to our common love for Shah Rukh Khan. A must-read for anyone who wants to make sense of contemporary India. - Snigdha Poonam, xx, PEN America Literary Award longlist for non-fiction writing. Author of Dreamers