Jeffrey Archer talks about why women can't let go of him, his hot selling books, and his favourite Indian writer, R K Narayan
No golf, only cricket
So 16 novels, six short story books, three non-fiction and three plays down, Archer says he is far from retiring. If anything, he says, when he is not writing, he visits art galleries, conducts charity auctions and helps Mary with her hospital that has 1,000 doctors, 3,000 nurses and 500 million budgets.
"Mary and I have an immensely energetic life. I wish I had six daughters but I have two delightful sons. I live a full life and I won't have it any other way. I won't retire and play golf," he says with a laugh.
But mention cricket, and he is all excited. "I lovvve cricket and I'm one of the world's greatest players... in my dreams! Sachin (Tendulkar), Rahul (Dravid) and I play together regularly," he jokes. Archer, however, rubbishes Twenty20.
"Cricket is VVS Laxman and Dravid surviving against the Australians the whole day and then winning the Test match the day after. That's cricket. Twenty20 is just a moneymaking enterprise."
Indian favourites
Archer's own work sells quick. Internationally, he has sold 250 million copies, in 63 countries and in over 32 languages about six in India itself.
"Since you get me in so many languages here, you don't need other English writers. I should stop them coming here," jokes Archer, who hand-writes his stories and blog, which is later uploaded on to his website by his secretary.
Archer stops in between to ask his media associate if "the gentleman in the wheelchair" has arrived. He turns back to us and explains that he has a lunch appointment with his guest and won't want to be late. We nod understandingly and ask him if he plans to base a book in India.
Archer replies, "You wouldn't expect R K Narayan to write Kane and Abel. So don't expect me to write on India. Narayan was a genius and he captured the Indian people, the atmosphere beautifully. I am incapable of that and I suspect he was incapable of doing Kane and Abel," he says, about his favourite Indian writer.
His other favourite is Vikram Seth and when asked to name a few more, he says, he can name 10 more but he doesn't rate them the same way as his favourite two.
"A writer is a hero here," he smiles, as he gets up to oblige us with some "vertical" photos.
Taking off
"Do you want me to stand on my head?" he asks jokingly. We say that would be an exclusive. He lowers his voice and mischievously whispers, "Scoop would be what I told you earlier on. I take 50,000 women to bed every night. You better believe it and I try very hard to keep them awake." He finishes the photo shoot in a jiffy and heads out, apologetic that he has to rush.
"You can talk to me while we take the lift," he offers, and steps out immediately. As we gather our bearings and books and rush out behind him, he laughs when he sees us balancing four books in hands, pen and writing pad. We can squeeze in just one last question: Has he heard of a filmmaker called Rakesh Roshan making a film based on his book Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less? "Good for meu2026 (pauses)u2026 really? That's news to me," he says.
We depart with a handshake.
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