The 3 Mistakes of My life Chetan Bhagat is the author of four bestselling novels - Five Point Someone (2004), One Night the Call Center (2005), The 3 Mistakes of My Life (2008) and 2 States: The Story of My Marriage (2009). Chetan's books have remained bestsellers since their release, and have been adapted into major Bollywood films. The New York Times called him the 'the biggest selling English language novelist in India's history.’ Time magazine named him as one amongst the ‘100 Most Influential People in the world' and Fast Company, USA, listed him as one of the world's 100 most creative people in business.' Chetan writes for leading English and Hindi newspapers, focusing on youth and national development issues. He is also a motivational speaker. Chetan quit his international investment banking career in 2009, to devote his entire time to writing and make change happen in the country. He lives in Mumbai with his wife Anusha, an ex-classmate from IIM-A, and his twin sons Shyam and Ishaan.
Praise for previous work Many writers are successful at expressing what's in their hearts or articulating a particular point of view. Chetan Bhagat's books do both and more. - A R Rahman, in TIME magazine, on Chetan's inclusion in the Time 100 Most Influential People in the world
The voice of India's rising entrepreneurial class. - Fast Company Magazine, on Chetan's inclusion in the 100 Most Creative People in business globally
India's paperback king. - The Guardian
The biggest-selling English-language novelist in India's history. - The New York Times
A rockstar of Indian publishing. - The Times of India
Bhagat has touched a nerve with young Indian readers and acquired almost cult status. - International Herald Tribune
Acknowledgements My readers, you that is, to whom I owe all my success and motivation. My life belongs to you now, and serving you is the most meaningful thing I can do with my life. I want to share something with you. I am very ambitous in my writing goals. However, I don't want to be India's most admired writer. I just want to be India's most loved writer. Admiration passes, love endures. To Shinie Antony, a friend who has been with me all these years and who critically reviews my work and ensures that it is fit for my reader's consumption. My family, which continues to support me in all my ventures. Specially, my brother Ketan Bhagat for his critical feedback from Sydney and cricket freak brother-in-law Anand Suryanaryan who told me more about cricket than anyone else would have. The people of Gujarat, in particular Ahmedabad, where I spent some of the most wonderful and formative years of my life. My publishers Rupa and Co, who have fulfilled all my dreams and continue to pursue the goal of making India read. My friends in the film industry, who have given me a new platform to tell my stories from, and who teach me new things everyday, in particular Atul Agnihotri, Raju Hirani, Alvira Khan, Sharman Joshi, Vipul Shah, Imtiaz Ali, Shirish Kunder, Farah Khan and Salman Khan. The Madras Players and Evam. Theatre Group, who turned my stories into wonderful plays. My friends in the media, especially those who have understood my intentions for my country and are with me. My colleagues at Deutsche Bank, my friends in Mumbai and Hong Kong. God, who continues to look after me despite my flaws.
The 3 Mistakes of My Life is a heartwarming story of friendship, love, passion and ambition by Chetan Bhagat, bestselling author of Five Point Someone. Summary of the Book
The 3 Mistakes of My Life traces the lives of three close friends, Govind, Omi and Ishan, in Gujarat. It chronicles the delightful and tragic tale of these young men as they embark on a journey to find success in their lives and careers. Govind has forever cherished a dream of setting up his own business, while Omi and Ishaan have always been relatively laid back in life.
Together they start a cricket shop. Instead of focusing on the business, Ishaan aspires to mentor a gifted batsman, Ali. Omi, on the other hand, is not very opportunistic and ambitious and his only aim in life is to be there for his friends and support them in all their endeavors.
However, nothing comes easy in life especially when you are stuck in a city which is caught up in chaos and turmoil. To realize their dreams, the boys have to face the worst of the circumstances – communal riots, massive earthquake, religious politics, and above all they have to bear the brunt of all their mistakes. Will the boys be able to come out triumphant from this messy situation?
Three Mistakes of My Life was adapted into a movie called Kai Po Che! which was directed by Abhishek Kapoor.
One India vs South Africa 4th ODI, Vadodra 17 March 2000 Over 45 ‘Why the fuck did you have to move?' Ishaan's scream drowned out the stadium din on the TV. I had shifted up to a sofa from the floor. ‘Huh?’ I said. We were in Ishaan's house - Ishaan, Omi and I. Ishaan's mom had brought in tea and khakra for us. ‘It is more comfortable to snack on the sofa. That is why I moved.’ ‘Tendulkar's gone. Fuck, now at this stage. Omi, don't you dare move now. Nobody moves for the next five overs.’ I looked at the TV. We were chasing 283 to win. India's score a ball ago was 256-2 after forty-five overs. Twenty-seven runs in five overs, with eight wickets to spare and Tendulkar on the crease. A cakewalk. The odds were still in India's favour, but Tendulkar was out. And that explained the frowns on Ishaan's forehead. ‘The khakra’s crispy,’ Omi said. Ishaan glared at Omi, chiding him for his shallow sensory pleasure in a moment of national grief. Omi and I kept our tea cups aside and looked suitably mournful. The crowd clapped as Tendulkar made his exit. Jadeja came to the crease and added six more runs. End of forty-six overs, India 262/3. Twenty-one more runs to win in four overs, with seven wickets in hand.
চেতন ভগতের বই ‘হাফ গার্লফ্রেন্ড’ এর কথা কে না শুনেছে? তুমুল জনপ্রিয় এ উপন্যাস অবলম্বনে সম্প্রতি বলিউডে একটি সিনেমাও নির্মিত হয়েছে। এই একটি বইয়ের নাম থেকেই উপলব্ধি করা যায় চেতন ভগতের লেখা বইসমূহ কতটা পাঠকপ্রিয়। তবে তার লেখা অবলম্বনে সিনেমা নির্মাণ এটিই প্রথম নয়। ২০১৪ সালে মুক্তি পাওয়া বলিউড সিনেমা ‘টু স্টেটস’ও তারই লেখা ‘টু স্টেটস: দ্য স্টোরি অব মাই ম্যারেজ’ বই অবলম্বনে নির্মিত হয়েছিল। অন্যদিকে, ২০১৩ সালে মুক্তিপ্রাপ্ত ‘কাই পো চে’ সিনেমাটি নির্মিত হয়েছিল তার ‘দ্য থ্রি মিস্টেকস অব মাই লাইফ’ বই অবলম্বনে। তবে, তার লেখা ‘ফাইভ পয়েন্ট সামওয়ান- হোয়াট নট টু ডো অ্যাট আইআইটি’ বই অবলম্বনে নির্মিত চলচিত্র ‘থ্রি ইডিয়টস’ তো বলিউড ইতিহাসেই অন্যতম সেরা সিনেমার আসন পেয়েছে। চেতন ভগত এর বই সমূহ কতটা সুখপাঠ্য এবং সেগুলোর গল্প কতটা চমৎকার, তার প্রমাণ তার আন্তর্জাতিক বেস্টসেলার বইগুলোই। ‘ফাইভ পয়েন্ট সামওয়ান’ আর ‘হাফ গার্লফ্রেন্ড’ ছাড়াও চেতন ভগত এর বই সমগ্র-তে আছে ‘ওয়ান নাইট @ দ্য কল সেন্টার’, ‘রিভ্যোলুশন’, ‘হোয়াট ইয়াং ইন্ডিয়া ওয়ান্টস’ এর মতো আন্তর্জাতিক বেস্টসেলার বই। এ বইগুলোর মাধ্যমে তার জনপ্রিয়তা ভারত ছাড়িয়ে সারা বিশ্বে ছড়িয়ে পড়ে। ২০০৮ সালেই নিউ ইয়র্ক টাইমস জানায় ভারতের ইতিহাসে সর্বাধিক ইংরেজি বিক্রি হওয়া লেখকের নাম চেতন ভগত। ২০১০ সালে টাইম ম্যাগাজিন তাকে বিশ্বের সবচেয়ে ক্ষমতাধর ১০০ জন মানুষের তালিকায় অন্তর্ভুক্ত করে। চেতন ভগতের জন্ম ভারতের রাজধানী দিল্লিতে। তার বাবা একজন অবসরপ্রাপ্ত সেনা কর্মকর্তা হওয়ায় তিনি সেনা স্কুলে পড়ালেখার সুযোগ পান। পরবর্তীতে আইআইটি দিল্লি থেকে স্নাতক এবং আইআইএম আহমেদাবাদ থেকে ম্যানেজমেন্টে স্নাতকোত্তর সম্পন্ন করেন। শিক্ষাজীবন শেষে ১১ বছর ব্যাংকে চাকরি করে লেখালেখিতে যুক্ত হন। এরপর থেকে তিনি মুম্বাইতে বসবাস করছেন। তার লিখিত বইয়ের সংখ্যা সাত, যার প্রতিটিই বেস্টসেলার।