The jack of different genres

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His first book, Anything For You Ma’am, instantly became a bestseller. After almost seven years, Tushar Raheja, the IIT-Delhi scholar pursuing his Doctorate, has come up with a young-adult fiction — Romi & Gang — that captures the dreams of Indian teens to grow up and become cricketers. The author talks to us:
1. After a college romance, why a young-adult novel?
The book features a group of teenagers but it is meant for everyone who ever dreamt of becoming a cricketer. It’s a leaf from my own life.
2. The market for young-adult fiction seems to be growing at a fast pace...
There was always a readership in this category, we have known Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys. From India, R.K. Narayanan and Ruskin Bond have been popular. It is just that now Indian authors and publishing houses are opening up to this genre — thinking of fresh ideas and themes.
3. Some critics have often raised questions about the inclusion of sex in the young-adult books. Your take?
Young minds shouldn’t be exposed to explicit material, the writers should understand that and draw a line.
4. What is your next book about?
The draft is ready. It’s a science fiction based in India. I don’t remember reading any science fiction coming from Indian authors. Since I am interested in physics, I want to explore the genre.
5. You have switched from one genre to another and yet again are trying your hand at something completely
different...
We have a tendency to put people in a box. It’s a common notion that a person who has written a romantic novel will only write that. Or if his first book is based on mythology, all his books should be mythological. But why do that? Just because it will help in promoting the book well? Like filmmakers, even authors can dabble in different genres and thus I want to explore all that I can.

As told to Priyanka Bhadani