Books and Beyond with Bound

Bound Podcasts
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Welcome to India’s No. 1 book podcast where Tara Khandelwal uncovers the stories behind some of the best-written books of our time. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, and insecurities to publishing journeys. And how these books shape our lives and worldview today. Tune in every Wednesday! Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Get in touch with us at connect@boundindia.com.

  1. 9.8 Why Delhi Never Sleeps (It’s the Ghosts) ft. Eric Chopra

    20H AGO

    9.8 Why Delhi Never Sleeps (It’s the Ghosts) ft. Eric Chopra

    Wait… ghosts were people once too! In this episode of Books & Beyond, Tara Khandelwal speaks with historian and writer Eric Chopra about his book Ghosted, which explores the haunted monuments of Delhi. But this episode isn’t just about spooky stories. Eric looks at the histories behind these legends, from the Lathwale Baba believed to inhabit the arches of Feroz Shah Kotla to the mysterious second grave inside the tomb of Jamali Kamali. Together, Tara and Eric wander through some of Delhi’s most fascinating monuments and the stories people continue to tell about them. They also talk about queer histories, forgotten royal claimants, the politics of heritage, and why people still leave letters for jinn when life’s problems feel too big. Rather than trying to prove whether ghosts are real, Eric looks at what these stories reveal about history and how people remember it. Press play, the ghosts of Delhi have stories to tell. Books and TV Shows Mentioned in the Episode: Fear Files (2012)Goosebumps (Novel Series)Vikram and Vetal‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

    50 min
  2. 9.7 A Life Bigger Than a Michelin Star ft. Suvir Saran

    MAR 4

    9.7 A Life Bigger Than a Michelin Star ft. Suvir Saran

    What does it take to build a Michelin-starred restaurant when you arrive in New York heartbroken and broke? In the latest episode of Books & Beyond, Tara sits down with Suvir Saran, the chef behind Devi; the first Indian restaurant in North America to receive a Michelin star, to talk about his memoir Tell My Mother I Like Boys. But this episode isn’t just about food. From growing up in Delhi feeling “othered,” to becoming one of the world’s first openly gay chefs, to being left on a New York sidewalk by his first love with Tiffany rings still in his pocket, Suvir speaks candidly about racism, heartbreak, illness, a 20-year relationship that shaped him, and the difficult decision to return to India at 53 and begin again. Tara and Suvir also unpack what it really took to make Indian cuisine “chic” in New York before it was trendy, why he chose not to villainise the people who hurt him, the story behind his 27-page acknowledgements (yes, 27!), and how the title came to be. This episode looks at the messy side of building a career and a life, the risks, the reinventions, and the moments that force you to grow up fast. If you’ve ever felt out of place or caught between two worlds, this episode will stay with you. ‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

    43 min
  3. 9.6 Forget the Pandavas, Satyavati Ran the Show! ft. Rupeen Popat

    FEB 24

    9.6 Forget the Pandavas, Satyavati Ran the Show! ft. Rupeen Popat

    What if the most powerful character in the Mahabharata was a boatwoman? In this episode of Books & Beyond, Tara sits down with debut author Rupeen Popat to explore his novel Satyavati, a bold retelling of the Mahabharata’s origin story through the eyes of a woman history forgot. Satyavati begins as a ferrying boatwoman, but her courage and resilience transform her into the queen who steered the fate of kingdoms. Rupeen takes us behind the scenes of his lifelong fascination with Indian epics, sharing his research process, stepping into the shoes of Satyavati, and deep dives that brought this book and the morally complex world of Hastinapur to life. From Bhishma’s unbreakable vows to Ganga’s enigmatic actions, the episode explores the conflicts, morally grey areas, and leadership lessons these timeless stories hold for readers today. He also opens up about his publishing journey with Jaico, what makes Indian mythology different than Western, and hints at the next books in the series that will shine a light on other overlooked characters. If you’ve ever wondered what really shapes history, or simply love epic storytelling, you won’t want to miss this episode. Books and TV shows mentioned in the episode: Mahabharat (1988)Game of Thrones (2011)The Lord of the Rings (Film trilogy)How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie  ‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

    43 min
  4. 9.5 Welcome to the Internet. It Sucks. ft. Anurag Minus Verma

    FEB 17

    9.5 Welcome to the Internet. It Sucks. ft. Anurag Minus Verma

    Be honest. When was the last time you logged off because you wanted to, not because your battery died? In this brand new episode of Books & Beyond, Tara sits down with Anurag Minus Verma, influencer, writer, and podcaster, to trace how the Indian internet went from cyber cafes and Orkut scraps to algorithms that know us better than we do. From going down random rabbit holes and getting emotionally invested in strangers we’ve never met, to collectively losing our minds over the next big controversy, it all points to the same question: when did being online become the default setting, and what has it done to us in the process?   Talking about his book The Great Indian Brain Rot, Anurag and Tara get into the TikTok ban and the madness around it, the influence of Sushant Singh Rajput, and why influencer fame doesn’t always mean anything outside the app. He also talks about why so many creators want to shift to film or TV, and how podcasts have suddenly become the format everyone wants in on. If your day starts and ends with a screen, and “just five minutes” never means five minutes, this episode is for you! So press play. Then maybe, just maybe, touch some grass. Books and Documentaries mentioned in the episode: Never Logged Out: How the Internet Created India's Gen Z by Ria ChopraMorality TV and Loving Jehad by Paromita Vohra (2007)Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion by Jia TolentinoMother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati RoyThe Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran DesaiKasapa by Manohar Shyam Joshi  ‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

    1h 2m
  5. 9.4 Mumbai Meri Jaan, But at What Cost? ft. Sidharth Bhatia

    FEB 10

    9.4 Mumbai Meri Jaan, But at What Cost? ft. Sidharth Bhatia

    Is Mumbai still a city for everyone, or just for those who can afford it? In this episode of Books & Beyond, Tara sits down with veteran journalist and author Sidharth Bhatia to discuss his latest book, Mumbai: A Million Islands. The book is not about the history of Marine Lines or the Gateway of India, but the thing that actually builds this city... PEOPLE! Tara and Sidharth explore the bubonic plague of 1896, the transformation of Parel’s textile mills into high-end malls, and what it’s like for 28 families to build a rooftop community, hauling groceries, furniture, and even dead bodies up by rope. They discuss displacement of both slum and middle-class communities, the stories of activist Gauri Sawant and Kanthibai of Kamathipura, and how walking across the city reveals the hidden lives and stories that often go unnoticed. Whether you’re a lifelong Mumbaikar or a curious outsider, this episode is a love letter and a critique that will make you question what it truly means to belong in Mumbai today. Books and Documentaries mentioned in the episode: Bachelor Girls by Shikha Makan (2016)Manto: Selected Short Stories by Saadat Hasan MantoNight in Bombay by Louis Bromfield  ‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

    41 min
  6. 9.3 More Than Just Chick-lit ft. Deepanjana Pal

    FEB 4

    9.3 More Than Just Chick-lit ft. Deepanjana Pal

    What if the most important love story in your life isn’t romantic at all? In our brand new episode, journalist and author Deepanjana Pal talks about her novel, Lightning in a Shot Glass. It’s a witty, radical look at two Mumbai flatmates navigating love, life, and ambition on their own terms. Tara and Deepanjana dive into why female friendships are often the real love stories of our lives and how having chosen family keeps us grounded. They challenge the notion of genre hierarchies while showing that love stories can be smart and fun. Deepanjana also gets candid about the messier parts of life, from workplace politics and abuse of authority to age-gap and interfaith romance. By bringing these real-world messes into the conversation, she proves that fiction can be both joyful and deeply authentic at the same time. If you’re looking to dive into something that's as smart and fun as it is unapologetically real, this episode is for you! Books and TV Shows mentioned in the episode: Younger (2015)Four More Shots Please! (2019)Call Me Bae (2024)Fleabag (2016)The Family Man (2019)A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent by Marie BrennanBeowulf: A New Translation by Maria Dahvana HeadleyThe Mere Wife by Maria Dahvana HeadleyThe Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran DesaiCat's Eye by Margaret Atwood‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

    55 min
  7. 9.2 Coding Ourselves Into a Future We Can’t Control ft. Akshay Chopra

    JAN 27

    9.2 Coding Ourselves Into a Future We Can’t Control ft. Akshay Chopra

    What happens to “us” when we’re no longer the smartest beings on the planet? In our brand new episode, technologist and global innovation leader Akshay Chopra discusses his debut novel After Us, exploring a world transformed by SUI, a self-aware, benevolent superintelligence that questions the very definition of life and humanity. Tara and Akshay dive deep into the fascinating (and often terrifying) intersections of science and fiction, from the "Longevity Escape Velocity" that could grant us 400-year lifespans to why humans may never truly understand an AI’s motives, and how Akshay conceived SUI not as an invention, but as a fallible, evolving being. The conversation goes on to explore why science fiction remains largely untapped in India, despite its wealth of technologists and storytellers, and how our fear of AI may stem from humanity’s own history of driving other species to extinction. Akshay also shares his journey of publishing his novel through Jaico and his shift from a "pretentious" writing style to a simplified narrative. By stripping away the jargon, he makes the looming reality of our future impossible to ignore. If the AI takeover keeps you up at night, this episode is just for you! Books, Movies, and TV shows mentioned in the episode: Frankenstein by Mary ShelleyBlack Mirror (2011)Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah HarariHer (2013)Star Trek (2009)Children of Time by Adrian TchaikovskyThe Monk Who Sold His Ferrari by Robin SharmaAutobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa YoganandaRubaiyat of Omar Khayyam by Omar KhayyamA Sound of Thunder by Ray BradburyChildhood's End by Arthur C. ClarkeRendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. ClarkeInterstellar (2014)2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)  ‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

    51 min
  8. 9.1 We’re Curating Kala Ghoda Arts Festival!

    JAN 20

    9.1 We’re Curating Kala Ghoda Arts Festival!

    What does it take to actually curate a literary festival? We’re back! Season 9 of Books & Beyond kicks off with Tara and Aishwarya spilling the tea on their latest project: curating the Literature Section for the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival 2026!   This episode is a deep dive into the madness of curation. Why is Aishwarya obsessed with color-coded Excel sheets? Why is Tara picking out "apples" for a festival? And how many "healthy skirmishes" does it take to build a schedule from scratch? From the magic of reading Kafka in Marathi to the courage it takes to launch a debut novel, tune in for an exclusive peek into the heart of a mammoth arts festival!  ‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

    47 min
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Welcome to India’s No. 1 book podcast where Tara Khandelwal uncovers the stories behind some of the best-written books of our time. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, and insecurities to publishing journeys. And how these books shape our lives and worldview today. Tune in every Wednesday! Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Get in touch with us at connect@boundindia.com.

Information

  • Creator
    Bound Podcasts
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    191
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Books and Beyond with Bound
  • Show Website
    Books and Beyond with Bound

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