Spot girl by Komal Mehta

"Spot girl" by Komal Mehta - Story behind the screen!

This book is published by Penguin metro reads in 2014 and has 274 pages. This book was recommended by Ravikiran.

Jiya, a Gujju MBA, has chosen unconventional career. She is manager of Bollywood star Shehzad Khan, who she is in love since she was 11. Shehzad is completely dependent on her to manage his schedule, career and finances. She calls herself spot girl. His association with a new starlet is the beginning of change.

Will Jiya express her love to Shehzad? What feelings does Shehzad have for Jiya? Does the spot girl have any other ambitions?

The novel has four main characters. Shehzad is handsome, lovable, impulsive, vein and one who keeps getting into trouble. Jiya is his woman Friday, trying to keep him out of trouble, managing his business affairs, concealing his love affairs, setting a defined career path for him, making him chose roles that make career and business sense and managing the endorsement deals. Ayesha is the new girl and wants to use Shehzad to further her career. Falak is Ayesha's manager, Bollywood encyclopedia and an aspiring director.

This book gives readers a peek into the working of Mumbai film industry. The world of equations, politics, affairs, dropping hints, speculation and gossip opens up for the readers. 

Jiya appears like a super woman, multitasking, managing things and satisfying whims of Shehzad and covering up his impulsive acts. Shehzad appears pompous and loves himself. Author gives a shade to his character towards the end that does not fit his character until then. It's a flaw. While reading the book one feels that Shehzad doesn't deserve a good girl like Jiya. But love is blind!

Most of the story happens in Mumbai but later part takes place in Cannes, France. Then the story returns to Mumbai.

Story is not pacy, but enough to keep readers interested. It's narrated in flashback and slows down considerably at times. Although the book is not exciting, it could not be abandoned either. I started reading the book in Oct 2018 and completed in Nov 2019. Phew!

Komal used to be a spot girl. Now she is author, script writer and works in the industry. Is Jiya's character based on her? Shehzad's character had similarities to Shahrukh Khan.

Why did I read this book? Ravi's recommendation. 

What I didn't like?  Inconsistent pace. Predictability. 

What did I like? Working of film industry. 

Read of you have spare time.

Scandal Point by Fahad Samar

"Scandal Point" debut novel by Fahad Samar. This book is published by HarperCollins publishers India in 2013 and has 289 pages. Fahad is a filmmaker. He has directed TV shows like BPL Oye! , Superhit Muqabla and The Poppudam Show.

Kapil Kumar, is a yesteryear superstar, well known for his brash language, his penchant for bedding his female co-stars and his ego. He decides to launch his handsome and attractive son, Ricky Kumar, as a hero in Bollywood film that he will right, produce and direct. It would be a remake of his super hit film. Gautam Goyal, is a handsome, arrogant and drug addict son of billionaire NRI Mr. Goyal, who owns a chain of Indian restaurants. He comes to Mumbai for detoxification. Paths of Ricky and Gautam cross. Not once, not twice but many times.

Ricky hates Gautam. Why? What happens to the movie? What about rehabilitation? Who are Sheena and Meneka? How does Bollywood, business and politics interact? Where will the story go?

This is a tale of film industry. An industry that is vengeful, slutty, partial, ruthless and extravagant. All the masala ingredients are present in this book. It has affairs, sex, oneupmanship, corruption, film making, hidden agenda, sibling rivalry, drug scandal and revenge. It is a web of deceit, lies, lack of trust and scandals. All the characters are entangled in this web.

The story is scattered all over the place. Although it has all the ingredients what is missing is order. It appears that everything is thrown in together without the unified and homogeneous effect. Author has tried to put too many spices in the pot pourri hoping that the recipe will come out trumps, but none of the spices has had the desired effect resulting in a confused taste. In the end Fahad outdid himself in making it unbelievably scandalous in an attempt to bring the story to conclusion and close the loop.

Fahad should have chosen a smaller canvas to make the novel more effective. He knows how to  captivate audience should have kept it up through out the book. Many incidents are taken from real life of the film personalities and knowledgeable readers can recognize the origin.

It is more of a nude rendition of film industry than a tasteful and artistic portrait. What is the significance of 'Scandal Point'? It's only the name of a pub where the story starts. More appropriate name for the book would have been 'Scandal'.

An OK book. Read if scandals interest you.