Happy to be papaya, don’t want to be banana: Chetan Bhagat on online trolls

Renowned author Chetan Bhagat shared his unique way of handling online trolls and negativity. When asked by India Today’s Consulting Editor Rajdeep Sardesai whether he gets upset by the constant trolling, Bhagat responded with a lighthearted yet philosophical answer.
“I am a papita (papaya). I believe in the papita theory. It’s one of those fruits that some people like, some people hate, but it has its own benefits,” Bhagat explained, using the fruit as a metaphor for how he sees himself.
“I am a papita and don’t want to be a banana,” he added, indicating that he embraces his individuality despite criticism.
At the India Today Mind Rocks Youth Summit 2024 on Saturday, Bhagat also shared his formula for writing a blockbuster book, emphasising that authentic creativity must come from within. He acknowledged experimenting with tools like ChatGPT but noted that they fall short in producing meaningful content.
“Whenever you create something, create it for yourself. It should come from within. This is what works,” Bhagat explained. He stressed that the key to success is personal passion and not being swayed by external feedback, whether positive or negative, as getting too caught up in reactions can disrupt the creative process.
Chetan Bhagat explained that writing about social issues inevitably upsets some people, citing how readers were offended by his portrayal of professors and the IIT campus in his book ‘Five Point Someone’. He emphasised that art, by its nature, will offend some people, and if we want great art, it may sometimes be controversial.
Bhagat also addressed the growing trend of banning movies, books, and comedians, arguing for the importance of freedom of expression. “You can’t have a democracy if you deny someone their freedom of expression just because it offends you,” he asserted.
When asked by Rajdeep Sardesai if he would explore the theme of “love jihad” in his future work, Chetan Bhagat responded thoughtfully, saying, “I could, but you should write about something when you’ve personally experienced it.” He acknowledged that while he could explore the topic, he hasn’t had any personal encounters with it.
Bhagat also raised concerns about the challenges of releasing such a movie or book, questioning whether society would even allow it to be published or screened due to the controversial nature of the subject.
In a lively rapid-fire session with Rajdeep Sardesai, author Chetan Bhagat answered a series of fun questions. When asked which politician he admires most— PM Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi, or Arvind Kejriwal — Bhagat cheekily responded, “Teeno super stud hai.”
As for actors, he chose Shah Rukh Khan, revealing that SRK’s manners impressed him during a visit to Mannat.
Given 24 hours to spend a Saturday night in an Indian city, Bhagat picked Delhi.
When asked to choose between his first loves — movies, politics, or sports — he opted for politics.
Finally, when it came to breakfast choices like idli, paratha, or poha, Bhagat went with eggs.
Some of Chetan Bhagat’s books include Half-Girlfriend, The Three Mistakes of My Life, 2 States and One Indian Girl.
The 2024 India Today Mind Rocks is being held at Presidency University in Bengaluru on Saturday. Some of the other speakers at the event include Ananya Pandey, Bhuvan Bam, Kiren Rijiju, Priyank Kharge, Madhu Bangarappa, and Pawan Kumar Chandana.