https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Mohan_DeepMohan Deep - Revision history2026-08-05T06:39:38ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mohan_Deep&diff=518182&oldid=prevMargretGerken: Starting the post basic info...2026-02-08T17:47:18Z<p>Starting the post basic info...</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{short description|Indian writer|bot=PearBOT 5}}<br />
{{Use British English|date=August 2014}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}<br />
{{Infobox person<br />
| name = Mohan Deep<br />
| image = Mohan Deep image.jpg<br />
| alt = Mohan Deep<br />
| caption = Mohan Deep<br />
| birth_name = Mohan Kishinchand Chandirramani<br />
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1948}}<br />
| birth_place = [[Agra]], India<br />
| death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|df=yes|YYYY|09|07|2017|MM|DD}} or {{Death-date and age|Month DD, YYYY|October 6, 2017}} (death date then birth date) --><br />
| death_place = <br />
| other_names = <br />
| occupation = Author<br />
| known_for = <br />
| notable_works = ''The Mystery and Mystique of [[Madhubala]]''<br/>''[[Eurekha!]]''<br/>''Simply Scandalous: [[Meena Kumari]]''<br/>''It's My Life''<br/>''The Five Foolish Virgins''<br/>''Color Me Rich''<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Mohan Deep''' (born '''Mohan Kishinchand Chandirramani''' in 1948), is an [[Indian people|Indian]] writer.<ref name="Tara Patel">{{cite journal|last=Patel|first=Tara|year=|title=Maverick Writer|journal=[[Behram Contractor|Afternoon on Sunday]]|issue=17 May 1998|page=6}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Contractor|first=Behram|author-link=Behram Contractor|date=6 April 1998|title=Eurekha|journal=[[The Afternoon Despatch & Courier]]}}</ref> He has written multiple books on [[Bollywood]] film personalities, including the books: ''The Mystery and Mystique of [[Madhubala]]'', ''Simply Scandalous: [[Meena Kumari]]'', and ''[[Eurekha!|Eurekha!: The Intimate Life Story of Rekha]]'' (an [[Unauthorized biography|unauthorised biography]] of [[Rekha]]). In recent years, he has focused on writing fiction. Two of his novels are ''The Five Foolish Virgins'' (2013) and ''Color Me Rich'' (2016).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2013-06-17|title=Author Mohan Deep returns with a Bollywood potboiler|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/author-mohan-deep-returns-with-a-bollywood-potboiler/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-08-09|website=[[The Indian Express]]|language=en|archive-date=10 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160410114314/http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/author-mohan-deep-returns-with-a-bollywood-potboiler/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Sam|first=Julie|date=2016-01-20|title=Rags to riches|url=https://www.asianage.com/books/rags-riches-989|url-status=live|access-date=2021-08-09|website=[[The Asian Age]]|archive-date=10 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510090210/http://www.asianage.com/books/rags-riches-989}}</ref><br />
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== Early and personal life ==<br />
<br />
Deep was born as Mohan Kishinchand Chandirramani and his family belonged to a [[Sindhis|Sindhi]] ([[Hyderabad, Sindh|Hyderabadi]] [[Amils|Aamil]]) family that migrated from [[Karachi]] ([[Sind Province (1936–55)|Sind]]) (now in Pakistan) in the wake of the [[partition of India|partition]]. He spent his early life in Bombay's western suburbs, [[Kandivli]].{{citation needed|date=February 2016}}<br />
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He started as a short story writer and novelist in Sindhi when he was doing his schooling. His published work 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).{{citation needed|date=February 2016}} He started writing in English after getting an honours degree in English literature from the [[University of Pune]] in 1974.{{citation needed|date=February 2016}} He was actively associated with [[Sahitya Akademi]]. His works are known for their psychological approach.<ref>{{cite book|last=Hiranandani|first=Prof. Popati|title=History of Sindhi Literature|publisher=Sahitya Dhara|year=1984|location=Mumbai|page=189|author-link=Popati Hiranandani}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Vakil|first=Ashwina|date=July 1994|title=Out Now|journal=Island}}</ref><br />
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== Literary career ==<br />
Deep's first biography, about actress [[Madhubala]], was ''The Mystery and Mystique of Madhubala'', published by Magna Books.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?201688 |title=Indiscreet Liaisons &#124; Saira Menezes |publisher=Outlookindia.com |accessdate=23 March 2013 |archive-date=12 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112181342/http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?201688 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Kamath|first=M. V.|author-link=M. V. Kamath|date=26 May 1996|title=Analysis|journal=The Daily}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|date=June 1996|title=[[Debonair (magazine)|Debonair]]|journal=}}</ref> The family, specially Madhubala's sister, opposed the book. The family, described as [[Dehlavi]]s by Mohan Deep, disputed the surname and insisted that they were [[Khan (surname)|Khans]]. The author countered that the name on her grave, written in [[Urdu]], was Mumtaz Jehan Begum Dehlavi.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Deep|first=Mohan|title=Madhubala's Publicity Hungry Sister|journal=The Daily|date=June 1996|series=Low Life}}</ref><br />
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In the unofficial biography, published in 1996, he claims that Madhubala's husband [[Kishore Kumar]] regularly whipped her, who would later show her lashes to [[Naushad]].<ref name=":1">{{cite book|last=Deep|first=Mohan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DCVlAAAAMAAJ|title=The Mystery and Mystique of Madhubala|publisher=Magna Publishing Co. Ltd|year=1996|isbn=1906574219|access-date=9 August 2021|archive-date=5 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210705015119/https://books.google.com/books?id=DCVlAAAAMAAJ|url-status=live}}</ref> He also stated that the versions about Madhubala's sickness and death provided by her family members did not match with those provided by Kishore Kumar's family members. Deep also questioned whether Madhubala was really ill or whether her ailing was a fabrication. Deep claims that Madhubala was forced to wear heavy shackles and whipped mercilessly in real life, and during the shooting of additional unreleased footage for the classic ''[[Mughal-e-Azam]]'' (1960), which he contends is proven by the fact that only a minor part of the total number of reels shot for the film were released to the public. He further claims that the additional footage of the film earned Kishore Kumar a lot of money which he earned forcing by Madhubala to work as a sex slave during the shoot.<ref name=":1" /> The book was heavily criticized on its release by industry veterans such as [[Shammi Kapoor]], [[Shakti Samanta]] and [[Paidi Jairaj]].<ref name="outlookindia1996">{{cite web |url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?201689 |title=It's in Bad Taste |publisher=[[Outlook India]] |date=10 July 1996 |accessdate=9 March 2018 |url-status=live |archive-date=12 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112172306/http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?201689 }}</ref><br />
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At the time when ''Madhubala'' was released, there was competition between publishers Magna Publishing and [[The Times Group|Times Group]]. Times Group was very critical of the book.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Akbar|first=M. J.|author-link=M. J. Akbar|date=5 August 1996|title=Sunday|journal=}}</ref> ''Simply Scandalous: Meena Kumari'', his biography on [[Meena Kumari]], published by [[Image Books]], was loved by fans and media alike. It was serialized in Mumbai's Hindi daily [[Dopahar ka saamana|''Dopahar Ka Saamna'']].<br />
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As a part of a trilogy, in 1999, Deep wrote ''[[Eurekha!]]'', an [[unauthorized biography]] of Bollywood actress [[Rekha]], with Shivani Publications. This, too, was controversial.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Mohan|first=Kumar|title=Party Repartee|journal=Complete Cinema|date=25 December 1998|page=5}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=Champgne Shots|journal=Society (Magna Publishers)|date=May 1998}}</ref><br />
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Mohan Deep is best known as the only Indian author to have written what are described as 'unauthorised biographies,<ref>{{cite journal|last=Pillai|first=Jitesh|date=26 July 1998|title=Book, Line and Stinker|journal=[[The Sunday Times (India)|Sunday Times / Culture Curry]]|authorlink=Jitesh Pillai}}</ref> he also wrote a novel, ''It's My Life'' (1997).<br />
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Deep moved into a different genre; historical fiction. In 2002, he wrote ''Nehru and the Tantrik Woman''. It was inspired by the 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 1975–77 when, then-prime minister [[Indira Gandhi]] had imposed emergency rule in India. The censor board for the theatre refused to give permission to stage the play, even after a stormy meeting between the author and the board members. The script was published as a book by Image Books with the same title, ''Nehru and the Tantrik Woman''.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2002-11-22|title=Newspaper|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1309&dat=20021122&id=Z8YtAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Z3sFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4500,1002655|url-status=live|access-date=2020-11-17|website=New Straits Times|archive-date=11 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511071837/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1309&dat=20021122&id=Z8YtAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Z3sFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4500,1002655}}</ref><br />
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His next was an entirely different theme, [[feng shui]]. ''Feng Shui for the Bold and Beautiful, the Rich and Famous'' was published in 2001. It was launched by Bollywood star [[Ajay Devgn]].<ref>{{cite journal|last=Padukone|first=Chaitanya|date=26 July 2001|title=Chalomumbai|journal=[[Mid-Day]]}}</ref><br />
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''The Five Foolish Virgins'' (2013) was a novel. ''The Five Foolish Virgins'', is a fictional take on the world of cinema.<ref name=":0" /> ''Color Me Rich'' (2016) was the tenth book, and the 3rd novel of the author.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-01-07|title=Shirish Kunder to launch Kindle edition of 'Color Me Rich'|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/shirish-kunder-to-launch-kindle-edition-of-color-me-rich/|access-date=2020-11-17|website=The Indian Express|language=en|archive-date=5 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180105233604/http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/shirish-kunder-to-launch-kindle-edition-of-color-me-rich/|url-status=live}}</ref><br />
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== Bibliography ==<br />
{| class= "wikitable sortable"<br />
! Title !! Year !! Genre !! Publisher !! ISBN<br />
|-<br />
| ''Color Me Rich''|| 2016 || Novel || Quest Mercury || {{ISBN|9788192678528}}<br />
|-<br />
| ''The Five Foolish Virgins''|| 2013 || Novel || Quest Mercury || {{ISBN|9788192678504}}<br />
|-<br />
| ''Nehru & Tantrik Woman''|| 2002 || Historical fiction || Image Books || {{ISBN|9788190109253}}<br />
|-<br />
| ''Feng Shui for the Bold & Beautiful, the Rich & Famous''|| 2001 || Non-fiction || Tristar Publications || {{ISBN|9788190107914}}<br />
|-<br />
| ''Four Options''|| 2000 || Quiz Book || Book Quest Publishers || {{ISBN|9788186025109}}<br />
|-<br />
| ''[[Eurekha!: The Intimate Life Story of Rekha]]'' || 1999 || Biography || Shivani Publications || NA<br />
|-<br />
| ''Simply Scandalous: Meena Kumari''|| 1998 || Biography || Image Books || NA<br />
|-<br />
| ''It's My Life''|| 1997 || Novel || Magna Publications || NA<br />
|-<br />
| ''Madhubala''|| 1996 || Biography || Magna Publications || NA<br />
|-<br />
| ''The Silhouettes''|| 1983 || Non-fiction || Nimma Publications || NA<br />
|- <br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Other activities==<br />
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]]. Mohan Deep and became a Feng Shui Master in 2001.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Bhagwagar|first=Dale|title=2.9.2001|journal=Jam-E-Jamshed|date=September 2001}}</ref><br />
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He was also the editor of an English news-weekly ''Suvidha Express'' for over two years and then moved to edit and write for filmtvindia.com, a Bollywood related web site.<br />
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==See also==<br />
* [[List of Indian writers]]<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
;Citations<br />
{{reflist|2}}<br />
;Sources<br />
* {{Cite web|title=Indiscreet Liaisons|url=https://magazine.outlookindia.com/story/indiscreet-liaisons/201688|website=[[Outlook India]]|date=6 February 2022 }}<br />
* {{Cite web|date=2002-12-22|title=Inspired|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021222210201/http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/specials/proj_tabloid/inspired.shtml|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/specials/proj_tabloid/inspired.shtml|archive-date=2002-12-22|access-date=2021-08-09|website=[[Hindustan Times]]}}<br />
* {{cite web|title=Mohan Deep's book Eurekha reveals all about Bollywood actress Rekha|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/eyecatchers/story/20000110-mohan-deeps-book-eurekha-reveals-all-about-bollywood-actress-rekha-776898-2000-01-09|website=[[India Today]]}}<br />
* {{cite web|title=Rekha|url=http://www.cinetalkies.co.za/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=388:rekha&Itemid=137|website=cinetalkies.co.za}}<br />
* {{cite web|title=Rekha dismisses biography as false|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411023155/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-79276801.html|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-79276801.html|archive-date=2013-04-11|date=3 March 2000}}<br />
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==External links==<br />
* {{Official website|http://www.mohandeep.com}}<br />
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{{Portal bar|Biography|India|Literature}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Deep, Mohan}}<br />
[[Category:Living people]]<br />
[[Category:Indian male novelists]]<br />
[[Category:1948 births]]<br />
[[Category:Indian film historians]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian biographers]]<br />
[[Category:Indian medical writers]]<br />
[[Category:Writers from Mumbai]]<br />
[[Category:Celebrity biographers]]<br />
[[Category:Indian Sindhi people]]<br />
[[Category:Savitribai Phule Pune University alumni]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian male writers]]<br />
[[Category:Indian male biographers]]<br />
[[Category:Sindhi-language writers]]</div>MargretGerken