Chetan Bhagat – One of The Most Influential People in The World

Chetan Bhagat: A Multifaceted Literary Icon

The well-known author of bestselling novels such as Five Point Someone (2004), 2 States (2009), Half Girlfriend (2014), and One Indian Girl (2016), Chetan Bhagat is an Indian author, columnist, screenwriter, television personality, and motivational speaker. He also writes columns on youth, career development, and current affairs for The Times of India (in English) and Dainik Bhaskar (in Hindi).

Chetan Bhagat – One of The Most Influential People in The World

From his bestselling books, five have been adapted into Bollywood films, including the hit films Kai Po Che!, 2 States, 3 Idiots, Half Girlfriend, and Hello. In 2008, The New York Times cited Chetan Bhagat as "the biggest selling English language novelist in India’s history" (The New York Times, 2008). Time magazine named him as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World.

He is active on social media with 6.4 million followers on Facebook, 12.2 million on Twitter, and around 275,000 on Instagram. This substantial following allows him to connect with fans and followers effectively.

In an interview with Forbes India (2009), he stated, "I’ve always written for young people, as that is the age one gets influenced most by books. However, today given my popularity, you will find my readers across all age spectrums. Sometimes, it is challenging to think what will work for my new-found audience after 2 States, which is a universal book. I’d say I still write for somewhat younger Indians, who are of course educated as the books are in English. From 17–30 of five years ago, I’d now revise it to 14-45 age group" (Forbes India, 2009). This insight into his target audience reveals his focus on youth and his efforts to connect with them through his books, blogs, or motivational speeches.

The Motivational Speaker

In his public life, Bhagat is not only a famous writer but also a motivator. He has spoken at more than 100 organizations in 50 cities around the world. He is a popular motivational speaker at corporate events, educational institutes, government bodies, and volunteer agencies. His stellar education (IIT + IIM) and diverse professional background make him an ideal speaker on topics such as leadership, passion, values, team building, motivation, and achieving goals. During a motivational talk to Gaya youth on June 25, 2013, he said, "There is no shortcut to success, and one has to work very hard consistently to achieve the goal. Do something that you love and do not go by other people’s career perceptions" (Bhagat, 2013).

Writing for Change

Bhagat is not someone who limits himself to a single topic. He writes to reach a large audience through his inspirational blogs or entertaining books. On his website, he explains, "I write for change. In order to change, I want to first reach as many Indians as possible through entertainment and then influence them with my non-fiction writings and views. For this, I want to be flexible with the medium, be it books, TV, films, stage, or the Internet. I do not see myself as an author alone, and my job is to reach and communicate with as many people as possible, using any available means. To me, everything I do fits in that underlying goal" (Bhagat, n.d.).

The King of Controversy

Chetan Bhagat also has a controversial side, often referred to as "The King of Controversy." The Hindustan Times wrote about him as "The King of Controversy: No half measures in Chetan Bhagat's Twitter spat with journo" (Hindustan Times, n.d.). During an IIT event, he commented on his novel The Half-Girlfriend, saying, "Educated girls don't want to date a guy who doesn't speak English and this is what I have tried to bring out in my novel." His comment led to a passionate response both for and against him. He has faced trolling many times on Twitter for his comments on public platforms.

An article by The Times of India outlines his popular controversies, which have tarnished his public image. A defamation suit was filed against him for his book Half Girlfriend by Maharaja Bahadur Kamal Singh from Bihar. He was also accused of plagiarism by author Avnita Bajpai for the book One Indian Girl (Times of India, n.d.).

The Duality of Fame

If he has a fan following, he also has detractors and haters. Critics argue that he has shifted his focus from books to film scripts and reality shows like Nach Baliye. The versatility he seeks has turned out to be perceived negatively among some. They complain that he is stuck with romantic and unnecessary melodrama in his books and has never tried to write something new. Media attention has contributed to his image as an overhyped writer. His image has become so distorted that memes and jokes about IIT/IIM graduates frequently circulate on the internet.