Interview: Sakshi Salve Author of 'The Big Indian Wedding'

Born and raised in New Delhi, India, Sakshi Salve is a new-age woman who wears many a colorful hat. Novelist, amateur photographer, voracious reader, chef-at-large, and for the most – an entertainer. She has recently launched her book 'The Big Indian Wedding'.

Sakshi holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the University of Exeter, UK. After having worked with a reputed fashion house, working the avant garde jeans and tee shirt culute, she switched to the other end - with internment stints in investment banks such as Barclays and UBS in London wearing jackets and black skirts and spending long hours in the City in London.

Sakshi Salve

Sakshi realized her calling did not lie in pursuing wealth portfolios and contemplating trade strategies. Some epiphanies are life changing indeed! Sakshi spent a summer in New York City in 2010 reading a comprehensive script writing course from NYU. Her penchant for extreme swings continued – she next catered to the dormant food critic in her by studying the fine art of food science and tastings at the renowned Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School in London. Don’t be surprised if Sakshi whips up a Michelin-star meal for you when in the mood! 

But what marks her out the most, as her friends testify, is her uncanny ability to make people laugh. As a child, she regaled her family with impromptu mimicry and impersonations. Her style developed with passing time, and she could be at a mike at large scale Indian weddings regaling large gathering or in a small group of friends holding forth with her inimitable style.

Her life experiences, travels all over the world and keen observant nature has all contributed to her producing a humorous and ambitious book on Indian weddings – out soon! Published by Rupa Publishers, the ‘The Big India Wedding’ documents and calls out the excesses, dichotomies and uniqueness of Indian weddings. It is a humorous and satirical take on Indian weddings and how they turn people’s lives topsy turvy for months ahead of the event!

The big Indian wedding presents the larger than life, sometimes outlandish, generally madding, and always high octane world of Indian marriage ceremonies! Dip in to discover of the zany, over the top, and thus far undisclosed stories associated with the well heeled Indian’s courtship and nuptial dance. from inebriated first dates over bottles of dom pérignon; to inspired proposals in exotic locations; to the entrance of the big ticket wedding planner to, finally, the giant wedding itself, preluded by shopping sprees, bachelorettes, sangeets and mehndis, and culminating in the mother of them all, the ‘saat phere’ this book is the ultimate compendium to the Indian marriage tamasha.

In an exclusive interview with Readersland.com, Sakshi Salve shares more insights into her life as an author and her upcoming projects.

Excerpts:

RL: Please tell us, when did you first consider yourself a writer?

Very recently, after my first book, 'The Big Indian Wedding' was published.

RL: What inspired you to write this book (The Big Indian Wedding), any specific incident?

I attended a string of weddings, back to back, and realised there is a lot of content for such a topic. In 2013, I danced and emceed for 8 weddings in four months. My world had become one big wedding! As these were my closest friends and family getting married, I was deeply involved in every aspect of these weddings. I observed and experienced so many things that amused and intrigued me. I thought it would be a great idea to document all my experiences and give my take on what Indian weddings have become today. Its a slice of life that only very few are exposed to. I have highlighted certain elements of the lives of the rich and the famous, and shared it with the world.

RL: Please tell us what books have influenced your life most?

Being an avid reader, I cannot keep a count of the number of books that have moved or influenced me. But if I have to give a few names then it would be, ' Forty Rules Of Love' by Elif Safak; 'Palace Of Illusions' by Chitra Banerjee ' The Unbearable Lightness Of Being' by Milan Kundera and every single book written by Paulo Coelho.

RL: Can you tell us what book are you reading now?

I am currently reading two books. 'The Cobra' by Frederick Forsyth, and 'Iran Awakening' by Shirin Ebadi.

RL:  Who is your favourite author and why?

I have many favourite authors, but the one who's writing style really intrigues me is Elizabeth Kostova. She is the author of one of my favourite books' called 'The Historian'. She knows how to beautifully weave a story, layer by layer and keep the readers interest 100 % from page one until the end. You get so involved in the book that you forget that there is a life outside of it.

RL: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest, and why?

Twinkle Khanna is one of the new authors I admire. She has a witty, fun and light take on things. Other than her there's the one and only for me- Paulo Coelho. No one else gives me goose bumps.

RL: Please tell us which will be your next book after this?

I am currently working on my next book. It should hopefully be published sometime next year. Unfortunately I cannot say much at this point, but its based on a very relevant issue. I have weaved a beautiful, fun and real story around an issue that has recently gained a lot of attention. Stay tuned for more!