Bhagat is back

With a bang, quite literally, with his new romance novel about age-gap love

- Manasi Y Mastakar

Chetan Bhagat is back in the romance arena after nearly a decade, and this time, he's stirring the pot.

In 12 Years: My Messed-up Love Story, Bhagat dives into a layered, unconventional narrative that mirrors the complexities of modern relationships. From age-gap dynamics to morally grey love stories, the bestselling author discusses why romance in India often sparks debate, how novels face harsher scrutiny than films, and why love—even when messy—deserves to be explored without judgment. In this candid conversation, Bhagat opens up about creative freedom, societal perceptions, and what readers can truly take away from his latest.

Excerpts from the interview:

You're returning to the romance genre after almost a decade. What drew you back?

Love never goes out of fashion. No matter how much we talk about careers, startups, or social media, people are still trying to figure out relationships. My readers often tell me, “We miss the love stories.” So I thought, let's go back to romance— but with a fresher, more layered story that reflects today's complexities.

Your earlier novels tapped into college life, youth aspirations, and relationships. What made you shift to a more unconventional, layered romance narrative?

Because my readers have also grown up. They are not just in colleges anymore; they're in jobs, marriages, divorces, therapy sessions. Real life isn't always boy-meets-girlin-college. It's messy, complicated, and still beautiful. That's what I wanted to capture.