7.8 Dharini & Rupleena: Interfaith Romance, Identity and Coming-of-age Stories of Women in India

Curious about how fiction explores the intersection of identity, memory, and love? 

In this episode of Books and Beyond, Michelle and Tara sit down with Dharini Bhaskar author of ‘Like Being Alive Twice’ and Rupleena Bose author of ‘Summer of Then’ to talk about the art of writing female coming-of-age stories. They dive into the challenges of creating relatable female characters and discuss how their personal experiences shape their storytelling.

Dharini and Rupleena open up about their creative process, the intersection of identity and literature, and the power of poetry and resilience. From navigating the complexities of inter-religious dynamics in romance to portraying the impact of the pandemic on human interaction, they offer a glimpse into their unique perspectives.

In this exclusive series in partnership with Penguin Random House India, we highlight two voices who are transforming the narrative around inter-religious romance and female coming-of-age stories in Indian fiction.

Listen in as Dharini and Rupleena share their thoughts on the creative process, the challenges of portraying identity in fiction, and the deeper meaning behind their characters' journeys.

Books mentioned in this episode:
Leila - Prayaag Akbar 
Mother India - Prayaag Akbar 
My Year of Rest and Relaxation - Ottessa Moshfegh
August Rush - Deborah Levy
Real Estate: A Living Autobiography - Deborah Levy
How to Kill Your Family - Bella Mackie
The Illuminated - Anindita Ghose
Burnt Sugar - Avni Doshi
Mrs. Dalloway - Virginia Woolf 

Authors mentioned:
Linda Greg
Jeffery Carson 
Anne Carson

‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.