Show Business by Shashi Tharoor

Show Business is a postmodern satirical novel by Shashi Tharoor, published in 1992. It tells the story of Ashok Banjara, a Bollywood superstar who is critically ill and lying in a hospital bed, suspended between life and death. As he drifts in and out of consciousness, he reflects on his life and career, and the many people he has met and used along the way.

The novel is narrated in a series of flashbacks, interspersed with monologues by Banjara’s co-stars and other characters. It also includes summaries of Banjara’s films, which are often parodies of formulaic Bollywood films.

Show Business is a biting satire of the Indian entertainment industry, exposing its greed, corruption, and superficiality. It is also a meditation on fame, fortune, and the ultimate meaning of life.

The novel was a critical and commercial success, and it remains one of Tharoor’s most popular works. It has been translated into several languages, and it has been adapted into a film.