Sheena Sobti

Personally I had expected a great deal out of the book for obvious reasons, so I couldn't help but feel a bit let down. Avni Doshi is a talented descriptive writer, with a penchant for expressing raw, uncomfortable emotions which are generally swept under the carpet. Although it makes for a riveting read, in retrospect the book comes across as a series of ramblings and musings with not much of a storyline and a very unconvincing ending. That said, it is a courageous depiction of a dysfunctional mother-daughter relationship, a topic so touchy that not many dare to explore it. To sum up I would say that it's definitely worth a read, but after tempering ones expectations a bit.

The impact of Bollywood on the collective conscience of the Indian public cannot be ignored. This book espouses feminism through the lens of cinema, using Shah Rukh Khan's movies as a metaphor for what a woman looks for in an ideal man and how it is continually denied to her in a deeply unequal society. Its not so much about the megastar himself but how his choice of movies and roles fuelled the desires and aspirations of women all over India and made them view not just men but also themselves in a different light. Things may be changing for women but not nearly enough and certainly not fast enough. As the popular quote goes, " A whole generation worked to empower women but they forgot to teach men how to live with empowered women". As someone who believes in true equality for men and women, which should be deeply ingrained in society and not just a farcical exercise, I feel this book is a must read!