Self-aware, sharp and gently irreverent, Twinkle Khanna offers a glimpse into the perceptive lens through which she sees the world. As an author-filmmaker, she has written Mrs Funnybones (2015), The Legend of Lakshmi Prasad (2016), Pyjamas Are Forgiving (2018), and Welcome to Paradise (2023). In an exclusive interview, Khanna shares her thoughts on writing, family, and embracing her true self.
Khanna believes that her job as a writer is not to offend people, but to make them reflect on the things that are visible. She thinks about how she will unravel the layers of conditioning, not just around others, but also around herself. When asked about the most uncomfortable truth she's written that made people squirm, Khanna laughs and says it's not about making people uncomfortable, but about sharing her perspective.
Khanna's writing career has given her a unique perspective on life, shaped by her love of science fiction and her family's love of reading. Her husband, actor Akshay Kumar, occasionally gives her suggestions, but mostly tells her to avoid certain topics. Khanna believes that writing is a solitary pursuit, but she doesn't think it's alienated her from showbiz.
When asked about the most bizarre thing she's read about herself, Khanna reveals that she was once listed as having had an eye operation, which she never had. If she could meet her 20-year-old self, Khanna would tell her to keep doing what she's doing and finish the book she started at 18. She's still working on finishing that book.
Khanna recommends several books, including Fredrik Backman's A Man Called Ove, Arundhati Roy's The God of Small Things, and Octavia E Butler's feminist science fiction. She also mentions her love of short stories by Jhumpa Lahiri and the works of F Scott Fitzgerald and PG Wodehouse.
