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. 9.13 Can Men Truly Write Women? Ft. Rahul Bhattacharya

    5D AGO

    9.13 Can Men Truly Write Women? Ft. Rahul Bhattacharya

    If you've ever felt the pull of a new city and the desperate need to start over, keep listening. In this episode, Tara sits down with the award-winning author Rahul Bhattacharya to discuss his latest novel, Railsong. Writing about the freedom of a woman set in the 1970s, as a male author, is no small task. Rahul talks about Charu, a motherless daughter of a railway worker who flees to Bombay to build a life from scratch, on her own terms, in a country that's also figuring itself out. Together, Rahul and Tara explore the role of research in fiction to make the audience feel like it's their story. Rahul explains what it was like to navigate this Everywoman story and how the domestic and the political are never really separate, whether it's 1974 or now.  He talks about why the computer undid his ability to go deep and how Toni Morisson’s method inspired him to write his first draft of 133,000 words by hand.  Whether you are stuck in the train or traffic, this episode will surely help you escape to another world.  Books mentioned in this episode: The Rabbit Angstrom series by John UpdikeDesperately Seeking Shah Rukh: India's Lonely Young Women and the Search for Intimacy and Independence by Shrayana BhattacharyaPundits from Pakistan by Rahul BhattacharyaThe Sly Company of People Who Care by Rahul Bhattacharya‘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.

    49 min
  2. 9.12 ‘Is This Instagrammable?’ And Other Online Crises ft. Ria Chopra

    APR 7

    9.12 ‘Is This Instagrammable?’ And Other Online Crises ft. Ria Chopra

    If you decided to go analogue this year but still find yourself doomscrolling at 2 a.m., then this episode is for you. In this latest episode, Tara sits down with Ria Chopra, writer, influencer, and Youth Advisor to Google, to unpack what it really means to grow up with the internet, how it builds identity, memory, relationships and sometimes completely messes with all of it in her debut book, “Never Logged Out.”  Ria dives into the rebirth of antiquated notions of love through dating apps alongside the rise of trad wife content and femininity gurus. And then she questions the new norm for weddings and proposals, where we put on a show thanks to our ‘panopticon gaze’, trying to make it all ‘Instagram worthy.’ Ria also gets honest about what it means to build a writing career online, navigating how much of your life (and the lives of people around you) becomes content and how to stay authentic without feeling like you’re ‘selling your soul’ to the algorithm. Finally, they touch on some trends that might shape us, including AI influencers with millions of followers, the analogue revival (trend or genuine shift?), and why extreme gender polarisation online is something we should be paying closer attention to. Press play, and then maybe pause to check how you're actually using the internet. Books and documentaries mentioned in this episode:  The Anxious Generation by Jonathan HaidtDon’t Date Me, I’m Dalit by Christina DhanrajAlgo Speak by Adam AleksicInside the Manosphere by Louis Theroux (2026) ‘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 6m
  3. 9.11 The Wrong Interview That Led to the Right Decision ft. Dr. Ashok Ganguly

    MAR 31

    9.11 The Wrong Interview That Led to the Right Decision ft. Dr. Ashok Ganguly

    What if the most defining moment of your career was the one you never planned? In this episode of Books & Beyond, Tara speaks with Dr. Ashok Ganguly, former Chairman of Hindustan Unilever, former Rajya Sabha member, and author of We Are Our Future. From failing in school to becoming a global business leader, Dr. Ganguly reflects on a life shaped as much by chance as by choice. He shares the idea that who we become is influenced long before we make conscious decisions; by our genes and our environment. Tara and Dr. Ganguly moves through different defining chapters of his life: an accidental interview that ended up shaping his career, the decision to return to India at a time when pursuing a life abroad was a dream for many, and his years navigating leadership and nation-building during a transformative period in India’s history. But beyond career and success, this episode is also a reflection of failure, the confidence instilled in him by his parents, the support of his wife, and the grief of losing her. It's really about how he makes sense of it all in hindsight. Tune in, there’s a lot to take away here.  ‘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.

    35 min
  4. 9.10 Bombay Food Isn’t As Local As You Think ft. Pronoti Datta

    MAR 24

    9.10 Bombay Food Isn’t As Local As You Think ft. Pronoti Datta

    What if we told you that Bombay food isn't as local as you think? In this episode, Tara sits down with writer and journalist Pronoti Datta, author of In the Beginning There Was Bombay Duck, to unpack the delicious and deeply layered history of Bombay’s food. Pronoti and Tara trace the city’s culinary journey, from the Koli fishing communities and early tiffin rooms to colonial clubs, Irani cafes, Goan bakers, Udupi restaurants, and the rise of Indo-Chinese food. Along the way, they explore how migration, colonialism, urban planning, and even real estate have shaped what ends up on your plate today. They also get into why “Bombay cuisine” is actually a mashup of many different cultures, the surprising origins of everyday ingredients like potatoes and chillies, how Goan cooks shaped elite colonial kitchens, the disappearing food cultures you won’t easily find in restaurants and so much more! This conversation will make you hungry. Order something before you hit play. Books Mentioned in This Episode: Taj Mahal Foxtrot: The Story of Bombay's Jazz Age by Naresh FernandesCity of gold: the biography of Bombay by Gillian Tindall‘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.

    45 min
  5. 9.9 Can Fiction Tell the Truth Better Than Journalism? ft. Rahul Pandita

    MAR 17

    9.9 Can Fiction Tell the Truth Better Than Journalism? ft. Rahul Pandita

    What does it mean to feel at home? And what do you do when that feeling never quite arrives? In the latest episode of Books & Beyond, Tara Khandelwal sits down with journalist and author Rahul Pandita to discuss his novel Our Friends in Good Houses, a story about searching for home and a sense of belonging in a world where both can feel elusive. Drawing from decades of reporting in war zones, Rahul reflects on his journey as a journalist, the emotional weight of witnessing a conflict, and why he turned to fiction to express experiences that were perhaps too close to home. He shares stories from the field, from travelling with Maoist guerrillas in the forests of Bastar to reporting during the chaos of the Iraq war. Rahul explains the concept of “Ungrund”, or groundlessness, which became the seed of the novel. Along the way, he reflects on the craft of writing his novels and how fiction can reveal what journalism can’t. Tune in, and find out what “home” means to someone who is always on the move.  Books mentioned in the episode: 1. Murphy by Samuel Beckett ‘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.

    44 min
  6. 9.8 Why Delhi Never Sleeps (It’s the Ghosts) ft. Eric Chopra

    MAR 10

    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
  7. 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
  8. 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
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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
    196
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Books and Beyond with Bound
  • Show Website
    Books and Beyond with Bound

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