'Amish Tripathi India's first literary pop star'

Ace filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, who was present at the launch of Amish Tripathi's "Oath of the Vayuputras", third book in his Shiva trilogy, terms the author as "India's first literary pop star".

Kapur says Tripathi makes him feel like he is in the wrong profession.

"Amish Tripathi is 'India's first literary pop star'. I drove here and thought may be I am in the wrong profession. May be I should just sit down and write books. It should be easier than making a film and handling actors, " the 67-year-old said here.

"When you are writing a book, your characters do what you exactly want them to do. When you are making a film, they (actors) have to go home, they have problems, their egos. But actually then, try writing one. You have no idea how difficult it is, " he added.

Kajol was also present at the launch and is all praise for Tripathi's writing style which she says even her nine-year-old daughter can easily understand.

"I am here today because I simply loved his books. I think they were fabulously written for the simple fact that they were so simply written. I know that I can tell my daughter, " Kajol said.

"Today she asked me, 'Where are you going?' I said, 'I am going for a book launch.' Then she asked me, 'Can I read it?' She is nine-and-a-half and I said, 'Yes. It gives me great pleasure to tell you that you can pick up from my library and read it'.

"It's that kind of a book that can interest my daughter and me at the same time, " Kajol added.

Tripathi's first book "The Immortals of Meluha" is being adapted into a film by Karan Johar.