Opening Night

by Diksha Basu

This is the story of Naiya Kapur, a Princeton University graduate who comes to Mumbai to chase the big Indian dream Bollywood. Naiya isn't searching for her soulmate, or hoping to find her roots in the India her parents once knew; she is searching for fame, fortune and fun in the new India.We follow Naiya as she navigates the labyrinthine lanes of Mumbai and Bollywood, where identities are fluid and murky and where lines are meant to be crossed. In the middle of scuttling between auditions and parties of every hue, Naiya enters into a potentially happily ever after relationship that turns out to be an it s complicated one with a neurotic ex-model-turned-film producer. As she battles her demons and tries to deal with her increasingly tangled life, the stage is set for high drama, and her Opening Night.

Genres: Fiction

279 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2011

About the author

Diksha Basu is a writer and occasional actor.

Originally from New Delhi, India, she holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Columbia University and now divides her time between New York City and Mumbai.

Reviews

[Shivali · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was extremely engaging but it was solely due to wanting to follow the drama and see what happens next. The writing leaves a little something to be desired, and the main character comes off as very one dimensional and kind of a sh*tty person. It’s a little infuriating to keep reading and seeing her make all the stupid decisions while having an inner monologue that puts her on a pedestal above everyone else. None of the other characters were at all likable either, with the exception of the best friend, Nal, who the main character continually fat shames in her own thoughts (yikes). That being said, Diksha Basu has two other books that are a lot better, The Windfall and Destination Wedding, in my opinion The Windfall is her best work yet.

[Rohan Malpure · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading The Windfall and Opening Night back to back makes it clear how far Diksha Basu has come as a writer. It's easy to see how skilled she has become at everything from developing a well-rounded character to pushing a storyline. That being said, Opening Night is still a decent read. The protagonist Naiya is a decent enough character that Baseu fleshes out well (though her motivations are a little underbaked). The book's relatively short length means things often feel a little rushed, but this also helps contribute to the book's overall strong readability.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. This is Sex in the City, Bollywood style. Naiya is a Ivy League grad looking for excitement as well as fame and fortune so she moved to India to become a Bollywood star. Lots of drinking and drama ensue. It has a light and frothy tone which I believe it is what Ms. Basu was going for. This could be a fun beach read. It is pure escapism and did keep me interested.

[Divya Chawla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super cheesy and a fun read. Was like watching a bollywood movie.