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Mohan Kishinchand Chandirramani (20th April 1948), better known as Mohan Deep, is an Indian author, painter and Feng Shui Master. Mohan Deep is the author of ‘The Mystery and Mystique of Madhubala’ (1996), ‘It’s My Life’ (Novel) (1997), ‘Simply Scandalous: Meena Kumari’ (1998), ‘Eurekha!’ – an unauthorized biography of Rekha. (1999), ‘Four Options’ (2000), ‘Feng Shui for the Bold & Beautiful, the Rich and Famous’ (2001) and ‘Nehru and the Tantrik Woman’ (2002) After a sabbatical of a decade, during which he touched the life of people as a Feng Shui Master, he is back with The Five Foolish Virgins, a book of fiction, to be launched in April 2013. Mohan Deep is known for what are described as 'unauthorized biographies of Bollywood stars'. While Khushwant Singh, one of the most popular columnist-journalist and former editor of 'Illustrated Weekly of India' called him 'a truly gifted gossip writer'], poetess-columnist Tara Patel described him as a maverick writer , Behram Contractor referred to him as William Goldman of Bollywood’s stars and Rajiv. K. Bajaj, the editor of 'The Daily' labelled him Kitty Kelly of India . It is interesting to note that every book he wrote invited controversies for its bold content.
Bollywood Biographies
The first biography - Madhubala (1996)
Film star, TV's number one stand up anchor Shekhar Suman said at the launch of 'Eurekha' that "Controversy is Mohan Deep's middle name!" . India premier society magazine 'Society' described him as "A man with million controversies in his beard".
His first biography about 'Madhubala' was named ‘The Mystery and Mystique of Madhubala’ and published by Magna Books. It created a storm in media and Bollywood. Never before had any Indian author written an unauthorized biography. ‘Madhubala’ was an icon. While her admirers lapped up the book, the actress’ family was aghast! Every skeleton from the family cupboard had been dragged out. The family, specially Madhubala’s sister went out of her way challenging his version. But, true to the tradition of investigative journalism, Mohan Deep had double-checked everything he had written.
'Outlook', a leading weekly hailed the book on 'Madhubala'. Former editor of 'The Illustrated Weekly of India' and a leading columnist and author M V Kamath described it as 'an excellent biography' and 'Debonair' called it a commendable biography, also referring to the war between the two publishing houses.
The family described as Dehlavis by Mohan Deep disputed the surname and insisted that they were respectable Khans. The author replied by pointing out that the name on her grave, written in Urdu, was MUMTAZ JEHAN BEGUM DEHLAVI . He had started his work by first visiting her mazaar. He wrote, “Madhubala was Dehlavi and not Khan. But how does that matter? With her kind of success she outgrew these petty things, becoming her own identity. Everyone related to her, including her ancestors (and Madhur herself) earned their identity from Madhubala and if they want to give a fitting tribute to her they should get their surname changed to Madhubalavi.”
When ‘Madhubala’ was released, a feud was going on between its publishers Magna Publishing and Times Group. Times group went out of their way to do a hatchet job Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page). followed this biography too but the readers, critics and reviewers loved his book.
The mother of all life stories: Eurekha (1999)
Mohan Deep nowe wrote Eurekha! an unauthorized biography of Bollywood actress Rekha. Shivani Publications published it. Indian premier daily newspaper Hindustan Times wrote, "Mohan Deep has established himself as something of a scandolographer penning biographies of Madhubala (Madhubala), Meena Kumari (Simply Scandalous) and Rekha (Eurekha). Mohan Deep got 'Eurekha!' vetted by two Supreme Court lawyers and though the actress tried her best to thwart the book on her by calling it 'false' and yet saying that she hadn't read it. Rekha was to talk about 'Eurekha' 4 years later. Said she, "I can never forget that particular phase of my life. I think he was a journalist named Mohan Deep. I still wonder from where did he collect all those hearsay account of my very personal life. And the way he had twisted the title ‘Eurek(h)a’ of the book by shamelessly borrowing the joyous quote ‘Eureka’ which meant ‘I got it’ of a famous scientist named Archimedes. But then that was his testimony against mine in a biographical not an autobiographical format." She went on, "Now just wait till I decide to pen and come out with my own autobiography to be tentatively titled ‘Shooting Straight’ or better still ‘Rekha Strikes Back’. Until then let everyone know that Rekha is one woman who is gracious enough to forgive and forget." Eight years later, she is still to write it. This completed his trilogy of star biography.
First novel - It's My Life (1997)
Though people talk about Mohan Deep's trilogy of star biographies, he also wrote a novel. While he was described as an author to watch , the conservative Indian media treated 'It's My Life' as soft porn. The politics behind this became clear when columnist V Gangadhar exposed it in his weekly column. Like 'Madhubala', this too was published by Magna Books.
Four Options (2000)
Four Options was a quiz book that sold successfully as Kaun Banega Crorepati, the Indian version of a TV serial anchored by Amitabh Bachchan became a rage in the same year. It was published by BookQuest.
Nehru and Tantrik Woman (2002) - Censor trouble
Refusing to be known as only a writer of unauthorized biographies, he experimented with a different genre; historical fiction. He wrote Nehru and the Tantrik Woman. It was inspired by the scandalous revelations about the illegitimate child of the first Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru by his private secretary M. O. Mathai. The play was set in ’75-’77 when, then Prime Minister Mrs Indira Gandhi had imposed emergency rule in India. The censor board for the theater refused to give permission to stage the play even after a stormy meeting between the author and the board members. “We agree that the play is historical fiction and based on stories that have been revealed by Nehru’s secretary but we will not allow it to be staged as it can create law and order problems,” refusing to put it in writing, the board told the author orally. The script was published as a book by Image Books with the same title Nehru & the Tantrik Woman. but never staged.
Mohan Deep was on the board of Censor Board. He was also the editor of an English news-weekly "Suvidha Express" for over two years and shifted to edit and write content for a filmtvindia.com, a Bollywood related web site. He edited a news-oriented web sited 'Parinda.com' too.
Sabbatical and Feng Shui for the Bold & Beautiful, the Rich & Famous (2001)
Besides writing, Mohan Deep was into painting and oriental philosophy. Much before Feng Shui became popular in India, he had started experimenting with the ancient oriental philosophy and science of Geomancy. Seeing that it was working well he shared the knowledge with some Bollywood stars and Indian politicians. This, along with his talent for painting, steered him into a new direction. Feng Shui became his new passion. He started painting Feng Shui symbols and icons. The acceptance was instant. He wrote another book: Feng Shui for the Bold and Beautiful, the Rich and Famous (2001). It was launched by Bollywood star Ajay Devgn who had consulted him after the debacle of his home production 'Raju Chacha' and is today one of the most successful Bollywood stars. Calling it a sabbatical Mohan Deep changed lanes and became a Feng Shui Master .
'The Five Foolish Virgins'
After a successful career as a Feng Shui Master for over 10 years, Mohan Deep is making a comeback with a new book of fiction - The Five Foolish Virgins.
Early days and Personal Life
Belonging to a Sindhi (Hyderabadi Aamil) family that migrated from Karachi (Sind) (now in Pakistan) in the wake of the partition, Mohan Deep spent his early life in Bombay’s western suburbs, Kandivli. His complete name is Mohan Kishinchand Chandirramni. He started as a short story writer and novelist in Sindhi when he was doing his schooling. His published work includes includes over 200 short stories, two novels namely Surg Munhje Baahun Mein (Heaven in My Arms) (1964) and Khaali Haath (Empty Hands) (1969), a collection of short stories entitled Parai Aurat (The Other Woman)(1970)and a collection of poems named Munhje Paachhe jo Hik Hisso (1972). He was actively associated with Sahitya Akademy. He made a successful shift to writing in English after getting an honors Degree in English literature from the University of Pune in 1974. He did this after abandoning a 7-years course in architectural midway. He is married to Nimmi Chandiramani, who is a Reiki Grand Master and an astrologer and has a son Vikkramm who is an IT entrepreneur and runs a relation-oriented website futurescopes.com
References
- Patel, Tara (1998). "Maverick Writer". Afternoon on Sunday (17th May 1998): 6.
- Contractor, Behram (6.4.1998). "Eurekha". Afternoon Despatch & Courier.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link) - Bajaj, RK (1996). "Deep Sells".
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help); Unknown parameter|=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - Mohan, Kumar (25.12.1998). "Party Repartee". Complete Cinema: 5.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link) - "Champgne Shots". Society (Magna Publishers). 1998.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?201688
- Kamath, M V (May 26, 1996). "Analysis". The Daily.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link) - Debonair. 1996.
{{cite journal}}: Missing or empty|title=(help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - Deep, Mohan (1996). "Madhubala's Publicity Hungry Sister". The Daily. Low Life.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/specials/proj_tabloid/inspired.shtml (
- http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/mohan-deeps-book-eurekha-reveals-all-about-bollywood-actress-rekha/1/243255.html
- http://www.cinetalkies.co.za/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=388:rekha&Itemid=137
- http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-79276801.html
- http://archive.deccanherald.com/Deccanherald/jun122005/enter165418200569.asp
- Patel, Tara (1.2.1998). "The Rotting Mumbai Elite". Free Press Journal.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link) - Gangadhar, V (16.2.1998). "Bottom Line / The Politics of Pornography". Midday.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link) - http://en.wikipedia.org/Who_Wants_to_Be_a_Millionaire%3F
- http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1309&dat=20021122&id=Z8YtAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Z3sFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4500,1002655
- Padukone, Chaitanya (26.7.2001). "Calomumbai". Midday.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link) - Bhagwagar, Dale (2001). "2.9.2001". Jam-E-Jamshed.
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1.Outlook India ^ http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?201688
2.Hindustan Times ^ http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/specials/proj_tabloid/inspired.shtml
3.India Today ^ http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/mohan-deeps-book-eurekha-reveals-all-about-bollywood-actress-rekha/1/243255.html
4.Cinetalkies on Rekha ^ http://www.cinetalkies.co.za/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=388:rekha&Itemid=137
5.Highbeam ^ http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-79276801.html
6.Deccan Heralad ^ http://archive.deccanherald.com/Deccanherald/jun122005/enter165418200569.asp
7.Misplaced Pages ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/Who_Wants_to_Be_a_Millionaire%3F