What I like most about Kulpreet Yadav is that he puts his thoughts into action with certain conviction and the whole universe conspires to get him what he aspires for. He sets out like a vagabond and things start to happen. A success for him is an inspiration to do more, and different. Though it may seem like a series of coincidences, one after the other, but there's a trajectory and a pattern that indicates that he’s an explorer unto self, and his achievements only illuminate a hidden part of him to him.
A Navy (Coast Guard) officer who oddly was convinced that he is a writer. So, he wrote a book in 2006 that did fairly well. Then he wrote another book that never got published. The third book didn’t do well was a rude reality check (retrospectively one can say some reality checks are misleading). His colleagues in the Navy advised him to enjoy life (read drink whiskey). "What do you achieve by writing books?” one of his colleagues asked. And it was a valid question. For it’s unprecedented for a Navy officer to aspire to be a writer worth his salt.
He was effectively demotivated and stopped writing for the next few years. But in due course, the writer in him revitalised with a realisation: Do short stories instead of novels. He made the adjustment, started writing short stories at a ‘mad pace’ as he puts it, and did some 200 stories and sent them to the top literary journals across the world. None of them got published. And rightly so, he blamed them for not having recognised his talent.
Kulpreet's never say die spirit and penchant to keep doing things and doing it well has resulted in him writing 16 books, most of them are bestsellers; in addition, has acted in more than 20 films/web-series; an enthralling speaker has had 350 plus riveting sessions.
His stories didn’t find favour of publishing in the foreign journals simply because they—the westerners—couldn’t identify with the context in which they were situated. There was no literary journal in India at that time so he founded and edited one on his own. The Open Road Review became a celebrated platform for literary work from across the world. More than 300 writers from 30 countries were published in this quarterly journal. A disadvantage became an opportunity to create an institution. The Guardian dubbed it as the ‘creative voice from India.’
The writer in him stems from the fact that he’s a good storyteller. And of all the influences that of his father, Rao Digh Ram Yadav, is paramount who passed away three years ago and Kulpreet misses him ‘every single day.’ He was an Airforce veteran who started teaching Maths and Science at the age of 50 years, and taught for the next 20 years.
“He encouraged me to read books. I was very close to him. We were also drinking partners from very early on, from the time I was in college,” recollects Kulpreet in his quintessential story telling way. There was a home library and he’d joyfully spend a night reading— binge reading akin to binge watching of Netflix series these days. His literary journey cemented his ambition to be a writer.
He gravitated to film making, made two short films on a shoestring in Lokhandwala in Mumbai with a friend, also a partner. Kulpreet was not happy with the outcome and wanted to delete the movies. His partner advised him caution and showed him the edited version. One of the film was themed on adultery. These films were selected by Pocket Films—India’s largest platform for short films, and were blockbusters. In three months, they were 32 million views, which have since crossed the 53 million-mark.
He has a lovely demeanour and a good screen presence, and that’s not out of place for he has a benign presence in real life too. He did some screen tests and since has been offered many smaller roles in big banner films, like was selected by Zoya Akhtar for a role in a much-acclaimed movie Archie. Now he wants bigger roles where he can further his yet another talent.
Kulpreet would travel to places, on a whim, to explore options and create new avenues. These sojourns are like a blind date with destiny. And destiny seems to have big plans for him. He went to Hyderabad and checked into a hotel for a week and as luck would have it, had a chance encounter with V. Vijayendra Prasad—a screenwriter and film director of repute. This led to two joining hands to write Brahmaputra: The Ahom Son Rises. Last seen was busy at the launch of his latest book The Battle of Haji Pir—offers a poignant insight into the lives of those who claimed the Haji Pir Pass in 1965, a symbol of both triumph and loss for India.
Family is his support system, his anchor or should I say his launching pad! Talent and the indefatigable spirit seem to be a genetic trait. Seema, his wife, has to her credit many audio series, is an excellent storyteller in her own right. Kulpreet is a father of two talented daughters Mehal and Liana who are independently shaping their respective destinies. Liana wrote Rama & The Palace Of Evil, a fiction inspired by Indian and Greek mythologies and woven into a lucid narrative.
Kulpreet's never say die spirit and penchant to keep doing things and doing it well has resulted in him writing 16 books, most of them are bestsellers; in addition, has acted in more than 20 films/web-series; an enthralling speaker has had 350 plus riveting sessions. And if this was not enough, he has co-founded two startups—Disha Kiran and World Law Alliance. Don’t forget, he was a decorated Navy officer with 20 years of illustrious service to the nation under his belt. And he has a long way to go…..
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