THE STRANGER IN THE MIRROR

by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra

The Stranger in the Mirror is the memoir of the legendary producer-director, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra. Co-written by noted marketer-author, Reeta Ramamurthy Gupta, this book chronicles the richly experiential, multi-faceted life of one of India’s most celebrated and feted directors who has made critically acclaimed films like Rang De Basanti, Delhi-6 and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. Though it may seem natural for an autobiography to have a primary narrator, what makes this book truly unique is its many narrators. It is this multi-dimensional, multi-character narration that will enable readers to delve deep and truly understand what it means to be as unselfish as Mehra, a man who gleefully steps back and lets the experts do their job. Peppered with anecdotes from Mehra’s life—from the chai-biscuit college days to the popping of the proverbial champagne—it implores readers to pay attention to understand who is narrating, because the plot may have just shifted a little bit, just like his movies. At the end, what really stands out is how effortless the journey has actually been. And herein lies the greatest paradox because there is no lack of perseverance in this journey. The miraculous manner in which things fall into place naturally, like pieces of a pre-ordained puzzle with the universe acting as the ‘sutradhar’, is the fulcrum around which the joy of this remarkable journey is built.

348 pages, Paperback

Published August 10, 2021

Reviews

[Richa Sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading about someone else's life is always a treat, as it teaches you, humbles you and motivates you. Here is another memoir that centers on creativity, expression and taking chances. Rakeysh Om Prakash Mehra writes about his life with Reeta Gupta and it's nothing short of the cinematic experience I expected it to be. Filled with exciting anecdotes and multiple narratives, this book makes for an interesting read.

A director sees the world in a different way, this was quite evident in the whole book. There's so much to see and learn in this book, especially if you love the film world. Whether it is the glamorous actors, exciting locations or imaginative shots, the book goes through them with the ease of careful narration. I can surely see why Rakeysh is so well revered in the industry, based on the perspectives of the many contributors of this memoir.

The book is a wonderful read for those who love movies as it will give you a deep insight into Rakeysh's vision and his process. Also, showing us the personal and financial aspects of his life, showing the hardwork behind his success. I for one enjoyed the childhood part of the book, as it was relatable and refreshing. Rakeysh's life story is one to read, enjoy and remember forever as a friend.

[Vishnu Chevli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been reading Bollywood-based books for the last 4 years. Just like Its movies and songs, Bollywood books also provide unparalleled sources of interest. Especially if you are reading some informative content like behind scene stories, success stories, and biographies of interesting characters. With similar hopes, I have selected "The Stranger in the Mirror" by Rakeysh Mehra. The hardcover book is designed so beautifully that after finishing it I kept it in a seperate collection of coffee table books.
The book covers the following aspects of Rakeyesh's life
1. His early childhood days and few interesting incidents of that time
2. His initial struggle from ad-film director to movie director
3. His way of visualizing story, characters & people's perception
4. His strategic thinking about field marketing
5. Behind scenes of movies like "Rang de Basanti"
6. Other Bollywood personalities' view or say about Rakeyesh's life from a personal as well as professional front

The book covers many more things than I have listed above. Though it is a biography you will find it as interesting as a storybook. My observations about the book
1. Easy language usage makes a smooth reading experience.
2. Just like parallel timelines common infections, a biography is written in more than one timeline.
3. Book is not just about Bollywood gossip but full of business insights in and around Bollywood.
4. You will surely enjoy narration covering behind scenes as well.
5. A must-read for movie buff for sure

I will give 4.25 out of 5 to this book.

[dunkdaft · Rating 5 out of 5]

If he had made only one film, Rang De Basanti, I would still be reading his life story. But the brilliance he has produced every now and then, his is the story worth reading about.

There is a great insight about his best work: RDB. Add to that, talks about Delhi 6, BMB, Mirzya and his own ad agency days. This is a page turner and immensely enjoyable book for a film fanatic. However it left me craving for more, if he would have included more about soundtracks of Mirzya and BMB. As he did about RDB and D6. The cheeky artwork featuring ROM and the posters/stills of movies, make this experience more engaging. Written in his favourite style of movie, non linear, this book is a must read.

[Mugdha Mahajan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An autobiography on the life of Director Rakeysh Omprakash Mishra is one interesting read. Bollywood has always intrigued me and I’m always up for celebrity gossips😂 so this book was a treat for me.
✨
I got to read about Rakeysh’s journey- from his childhood to his success in Bollywood mixed with all the struggles he endured throughout his life. We often underestimate the people who work behind the cameras but the hardwork they put in to make a movie is commendable. I got to learn so much from this book. Also the anecdotes from various artists added as a cherry on the top.
✨
I absolutely enjoyed reading the book and the narration was smooth too.
The best part was the photographs attached in between the pages😻

Definitely recommended to all the Bollywood freaks. Do give this book a try.

[Umesh Kesavan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The celebrated auteur Rakeysh Mehra pens a memoir on his life and career with a narrative that mirrors his storytelling in movies. The non-linear narrative, peppered with perspectives of other partners in cinema, does not disorient the reader - rather it adds to the readability and provides a wholesome experience. While too much detailing of his personal life is rather gratuitous, his experiences in making classics like Delhi-6 and Rang De Basanti are page-turners. Of late he has not done movies which match up to his earlier stratospheric standards and yet this delightful peek into his filmmaking and thought processes assure that he will bounce back sooner than later.

[Enakshi J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s rare for me to enjoy an autobiography till the very end even if it is about a very famous person. There are two reasons why autobiographies fail to hold my attention for long- one, they are loquacious and two, they are lacklustre. The Stranger in the Mirror, however, is quite the opposite, for it not only shares interesting stories of the multi-faceted Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra but also collates anecdotes from various people, belonging to different spheres of life, who have had a varied equation with the man himself.

Read the complete review here: http://www.aliveshadow.com/category-b...

[Abhilash Ruhela · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are many Bollywood personalities who are quite open about themselves, and you understand them a lot. There are many Movie directors and producers who are generally behind the scenes when it comes to moviemaking, but they assure they are close to their audiences by being Reality-show judges or Interview Host or being a pro at handling their social media handles. Similarly, there are few who are interested in creating movies only and doesn’t expose themselves at all and hence you always have a sense of curiosity in knowing about them. One such personalities is Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra who is the proud director of movies like Rang De Basanti, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and recently released, Toofaan.

It was a complete surprise when I learnt that his autobiography has been released which has been co-written with Reeta Ramamurthy Gupta, who is herself a very sound author and popular personality. The book is named “The Stranger in the Mirror” which is published by Rupa Publications in around 320 pages. This is one of the rare books where I have completed it by reading only 20-30 pages daily because I wanted to consume it in a way where I can imbibe much of its qualities in my working lifestyle. Now that I have finished reading it, I can very easily say that I have learnt a lot from it and how to be a constant personality throughout your career so that everyone you meet has the same thing to say about you.

This book is written in a style that you’ll feel you are watching a movie which is shifting its timeline back-to-back to keep you interested in the story. Mostly when I have read any autobiography, it always starts from the author’s birth/childhood and ends up with the chapter which discusses his/her most recent life-event. This is completely different from all such attempts. Here, you’ll be surprised reading the next chapter after completing one as it will be completely different than the one you read just now. This makes you excited to know the other side of Rakeysh’s personality.

The book talks mainly about the world of cinema which has consumed Rakeysh in a way that his life revolves around it. Right from how he began from the world of advertising and then slowly moved to direction tells you about the amount of effort and commitment he has put in his work and craft. How certain good practices and relationships helped him with the opportunities or the help at the right time displays the importance of having good people around you. Rakeysh has been very vocal about the people who supported him in the life and career in several chapters throughout the book which tells you about the power of gratitude and how it keeps compounding to give you great results when you expect the least.

He tells it all- his days of success as well as failure. He hasn’t hidden anything which helps the reader in you to connect the dots with your life and see how you reacted in the similar conditions. He also talks about how he had to regularly consider keeping his only house on mortgage because every time he wanted funds, people didn’t agree, and he was all by himself to make that movie he wanted to. He also describes how small experiences or incidents made him think about the certain topic and then finally decide of creating a movie on it. He states how difficult it became for him when he took his scripts to the actors who kept refusing the movie continuously making it difficult for him to proceed ahead with his dreams.

When he is not speaking, his favourite people are talking about him or their experiences of collaborating with Rakeysh in their own words. I would like to mention some of these people such as Abhishek Bachchan, Sonam Kapoor, Aamir Khan, Waheeda Rehman, Ronnie Screwvala, Madhavan, Prahlad Kakkar, Manoj Bajpayee, Narayana Murthy, Farhan Akhtar, Atul Kulkarni etc. Even his family has spoken about him in depth such as his sister, his wife, and children. All these pieces will make you understand the character of Rakeysh more and what makes him one of the rare personalities in Bollywood. His craft of making cinema without thinking of its success or failure tells you about the passion for movies that he has.

Overall, the book is surely interesting, and it will help you know the process of moviemaking more than what you already know. Next time when you would be watching ROMP’s movie, you’ll watch every scene deeply as you know it has been picturized keeping certain aspects in mind. I really loved his emotional feelings for Amitabh Bachchan and I could connect a lot with it being Big B’s fan myself. Reeta has played the major part in bringing everything together and scripting it in a way that makes you feel that you are directly talking with the director. I will not say that this is the most inspirational or motivational autobiography, but you would just love knowing this person who is fighting all the odds to continue his passion of making movies. I give this book 4.25 stars out of 5.

Thanks.

WRITING BUDDHA

[Shruti Chhabra · Rating 5 out of 5]

"All is beautiful and unceasing, all is music and reason, and all, like a diamond, is carbon first, then light."  -José Martí.
Nothing is closer to defining this sensitive and beautiful filmmaker's journey than this quote. Of-late biographies have captured much of my mind and a more significant chunk of my reading list. Mr. Mehra's biography is simple yet magical, just like his films. The Stranger in The Mirror shares the journey of Rakesh Mehra, a carefree Delhi boy, to Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, the National Award-winning director.

This book is not just a biography but a richly empirical, multi-faceted odyssey through the life of one of India's most celebrated and honored directors, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, known for his critically acclaimed films like Rang De Basanti, Delhi-6, and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, as well as experimental, ahead-of-its-time movies like Aks and Mirzya. Mehra's life is narrated in a simple but truly unique way. Unlike traditional autobiographies with linear narratives, this book features multiple narrators and colleagues, offering a multi-dimensional, multi-character perspective that captivate and engage readers, allowing them to truly understand the man behind the films.
"But I discovered that food can be a motivator too. Who can forget the legendary Milkha Singh's love for the glass of dudh (milk) and two raw eggs?"
"My venture Toofan with the colossus Javed Akhtar and his Farhan Akhtar involves gastronomic induldence as well. When I enter his house, where he also has a writimng studio, I am not even remotely thinking about the script. I am consumed by the spread of pure Awadhi and Mughlai dishes that will be laid out."
He adores music and is a lousy singer, and most importantly, he is calm in the chaos in the world called cinema; he doesn't superimpose. Instead, he lets the actor decide what is the best. He pushes them without being a bully.
He totally adores his parents' relationship, and it reflects enormously in his relationship with his wife Bharathi. This connection, somewhat reminiscent of the relationship of Michelle and Barack Obama, is beautifully described in the book. The personal anecdotes shared by Mehra make you feel connected and empathetic, adding a layer of relatability to his journey.
"To his credit, Bauji was exceptionally good at networking and developed key connections to create opportunities for his children with great perseverance and honesty. His unique ability to build relationships was fostered by Maa's willingness to nurture them."

This book is meant to be studied and understood by everyone who has the zeal to not give up, take risks, and is passionate about his/her craft. This book goes beyond the cinematic periphery and ventures into the more extensive territory of courage and perseverance. Mehra and Gupta have well defined every aspect of life and brought it to paper. Alongside, there's much storytelling about storytelling. The hows, whats, whys, whens, and wheres get answered from page to page. And never once does it feel like reading a book. In certain places, his way of expression is so humane, and even after the hardships, he never once plays a victim card. I loved it when he wrote.
"I landed in Bombay with three buttons of my shirts open and went straight to PK's office. After all, he was the subconscious force that had brought me here. I was 23, and I had the world at my feet.
Me: I am making a commercial. Can I use your office?
PK ( Prehlad Kakkar): Of course. The staircase outside, that's your office.
And that was Bombay: a reality check within two minutes flat. "
Mr. Mehra cherishes his success but isn't bitter about his failures. He accepts his failures gracefully and welcomes his super success.

I would like to share what legends from various walks of life think of Mr. Mehra.
'It's tough to constantly infuse your films with your own belief systems. Success or failure, Rakeysh has constantly done that.' —Shekhar Kapur, Filmmaker.

'Rakeysh's success is important because it is based on his integrity.' —N.R. Nayarana Murthy, Founder, Infosys.

'A master of the storytelling oeuvre, [Mehra] has brought to life alternate narratives, whose success lies in their being relevant, irrespective of the continuum of time.' —Sanjoy Roy, Producer, Jaipur Literature Festival.

'… [Rakeysh] has scored his own triple hundred for India with the films Rang De Basanti, Delhi-6, and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. I wish him many more centuries!' —Virender Sehwag, Cricketer.

'Read this book to understand the making of a genius.' —Amish Tripathi, Bestselling Author.

After Will Smith's autobiography this one just stole and 5/5 from me.I wish to do more about the book, but I find myself unable to cover every aspect, which is vast. Last word – blindly grab a copy and get reading!

PS. After reading this book, I saw Rang De Basanti again and could relate to so many things. It felt like watching this film as an insider.

[Manvi Narang · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Raam and Raavan, all reside inside us. Ask the mirror and it will show you because every morning, I see myself as completely new in front of the mirror.
Who is that stranger in the mirror?"

The Stranger in the Mirror celebrates the life and work of the legendary producer-director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra. Creator of great films like Rang De Basanti and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, the acclaimed director opens his stories and anecdotes for all of us to be a part of!

This book is a treat for all the bollywood lovers who always wanted a sneak peak of a how the cinema world operates and how a remarkable journey is built redefining the Indian cinema!

Colours of Mehra's youth to his move from the title of an ad-filmmaker to a renowned film director, this book will give you insights of each of his movies. It will bisect the enormous amount of thought that went into them and the miracles that took place alongside! Success and failure, all conveyed boldly by the authors in this one will draw you more and more to the genuis behind such extraordinary storylines!

What is the best thing about this book for me is the narration! Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and Reeta Ramamurthy in this one, have blurred the usual lines of narration and presented something 'multi-dimensional', you'll find excerpts and sides of the story from not only one perspective but many other including those of renowned faces like Raveena Tandon, Atul Kulkarni, Waheeda Rehman and many more! The behind the scenes pictures also add a charm to the insights of the movies and the Rang De Basanti part was my personal favourite! All bollywood lovers need to pick this one up!

"Toh ek din nikal pada nain
aap hi apne ko dhoondhne.
Pagdandi mili, nikal pada,
chaon mili, toh so gaya,
taare soye toh uth pada,
fir chal pada."

[Romita Mukherjee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I still remember the time when I watched Rang De Basanti with my friends and on a whim, we decided that we would perform a skit on this movie. Even though the skit didn’t happen, RDB became one of my all-time favourite movies. Then came Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, another addition to the list. So, when I got to know that the person behind the idea of these movies was coming out with his story, I knew I had to read this book. And what a read this was!

Honestly, it took me two sittings to finish this book because I was that engaged in it. To see a movie from the eyes of the director, to see an idea take shape, to see a journey reach its destination – it was fascinating, to say the least. There are a plethora of things to learn in this book about him and his style– the art of his filmmaking, the art of advertising, the story building behind his every movie, the process of casting, editing, directing, music, his struggles throughout – all in all, everything that goes into making an idea of his take shape of either a movie or advertisement or music video.

This book not only gives you an insight into his life as a director, but you will also get plenty of peaks into his personal life as well. The multiple narratives by different people will help you understand why he is so loved and respected by those close to him. His narration, very daftly, made me realise why his storytelling style is perceived as unique. Also, Reeta Gupta has done an amazing job in supporting the narration throughout.

If movies have been an integral part of your life or if you are someone who enjoys watching movies, I would highly recommend this book to you. I am sure you will enjoy this book.

[Srishti · Rating 5 out of 5]

'AR works only at night and Bharathi edits only in the day, so my bedroom was my seat on the flight. Later, we realized that I had taken 22 flights back and forth in those 30 days. Imagine my surprise when I came to know later that AR was under immense pressure to join the musical team of the Broadway version of The Lord of the Rings. He made a choice and told the producers of the musical that they may fire him because he was committed to finishing RDB. That's AR for you.'

This book is a treasure trove of anecdotes from Mehra's life— from being selected for the camp of the Indian swimming team at the 1982 Asian Games; working as an account executive at Ulka Advertising; taking 22 flights in 30 days during the making of Rang De Basanti; having an elephant guest on the sets of a BPL television ad; to celebrating the selection of "The Greatest Love Story Ever Told" at Cannes and many more such stories.

Reading the stranger in the mirror was like sitting with a dear friend and chatting about life, the plus point being the conversation never got boring. The narrative was fluid and the pictures sprinkled every now and then gave the feel of flipping through a photo album. Delhi–6, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag Mere pyaare Prime Minister, Toofaan, Aks: these are some of the Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra films that I have loved watching; specially Mere pyaare Prime Minister, the remake of 'ja re hat natkhat' is a masterpiece. Hands down this book is one of the most interesting memoirs I have read.

[Prathyush Parasuraman · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you love his films, this will be a nice compelling read, filled with anecdotes explaining how he made them, cobbled together finances by mortgaging his house, the influences, the drunken depressions after failure, compulsions, hurdles. Otherwise, nothing great.

I wrote about the book here

[Arun Divakar · Rating 3 out of 5]

The structure of this book is quite unique. It jumps between different phases in time and that too quite seamlessly. Traversing the life of Rakyesh Mehra and alternating it with the creative process behind his films was quite a unique way to tell his story.

An interesting read. I was more of a fan of his work on Rang De Basanti and Bhag Milkha Bhag and that boosted my enjoyability factor of the book too.

[Sambasivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra is a great director. Period.

The accolades he gets from people around him is a sure shot testimony of his creative genius and uncompromising attitude towards movie making.

To be the best and to be different, with utmost integrity and give a message to the nation.

Waiting for his next release.

In the meanwhile go for it.

[Tushar Shukla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book for very cheap in a sale and was surprised at the great quality, hardbound, very professionally formatted. Then I realised why wouldn't it be, it is a book by an ad agency stalwart, and one of the finest modern day Bollywood film makers. It took me a 3-4 hours evening session to go through it( with an impromptu playlist of songs from memorable films of ROM). I must confess I didn't read all of it, just my favorite bits - AR Rahman, Abhishek Bachchan, and the chapters on Delhi-6, Mirzya, RDB, Gulzar, Aks and few phases of the director's life. I liked how he keeps the chapters concise and the writers' changing voices giving us different perspectives and break the monotony. Also like the pictures and how the captions show a keen professional creative (ROM) behind each page. I felt sometimes the book goes too much into the family/personal stuff which makes it look like a family coffee table book/photo album, but if you love the cinema and art of ROM, this is a good book to have, away from Bollywood gossips. I am a huge fan of Delhi-6 and over the years RDB has left me a little perplexed with its messaging. Delhi-6 IS Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra so the main voice echoes with that story and grounding. It was also a little shocking (yet, unsurprising, if it makes sense) to read that the director went into depression after the film's failure. I quite dig Mirzya too, mostly due to Gulzar and the brilliant score. I am not fond of few of his films (Bhaag Milkha, Toofaan) but do look forward to his Karna project, and possible reunion with AR Rahman or Abhishek Bachchan (too bad Samjhauta Express couldn't be their first film because of a hilarious reason mentioned in the book).
All in all this is a good book to have on your shelf, and visit the sections sometimes especially if you listen to songs of Delhi-6 as much as I do.