Shahnaz Hussain's daughter on her autobiography
No one else could have written Shahnaz Hussain's story like I have done: Nelofar Currimbhoy
Being a witness to well known beauty- expert Shahanaz Hussain's meteoric success and her personal setbacks, no other writer could have done justice to her story, says Hussain's daughter Nelofar Currimbhoy.
Nelofar who had recently penned down her mother's biography, "Flame: The story of mother Shahnaz Hussain" told in an interview, " Considering she had refused several notable authors to write her biography, it was perhaps the greatest honor and symbol of her and faith in me. So, 'Flame' is not just a biographical account but a promise kept."
"Writing a book is a long experience and quite frankly I began to feel at some point that no one could tell her story like me even though the narrative may be brushed with a daughters affection." said Nelofar adding, " No doubt, there will be many books written on her in the future too but making the debut is a touching moment for me."
Recalling the day she promised Hussain to pen down her biography Nelofar said, " She gifted me Gulzar’s biography written by his daughter Boski. When I opened the first page I found a note by her saying , "Promise me you will write a book on me someday."
Nelofar who is the President of Shahnaz Ayurveda said that her passion for writing and establishing her identity as a writer is above all other priorities for her.
"We all have our own parameters of success and fulfillment and for me it only means being a writer who leaves behind a body of work. The line on my epitaph ? ‘Nelofar Currimbhoy - Writer’"she said.
Hussain who refused to read the draft of the book before it was published had immense faith in her daughter's writing since her childhood, said Nelofar.
" She has my poems and scribbles framed on her walls and collected my letters to her which she says she would like to publish. Clearly she was convinced of my writing abilities but I got convinced after I got the feedback from Hacchett Publications."
Nelofar believes that writing the book was an effortless experience for her as compared to what she had expected. " It was as though I was spilling the life I saw as a young girl , as a daughter and as an active participant in the story I was telling . It was her life, it was my life, it was our life. That’s how I viewed it. That's how I wrote it." she said.
Quizzed about the choice of title for the biography, Nelofar said, "The book describes my reason when I say 'This is the story of my mother who was born a flame; a Flame so bright that none of life’s storms could douse her intensely free spirit. Every time a wave splashed on her she rose again with an irrepressible energy- the energy of life and passion."
Citing similar reasons for the choice of cover page she said, " I scanned through uncountable images stocked on the computer and nothing seemed to do justice . Finally there was this picture that touched the senses immediately. It has a certain iconic quality, the clothes and jewelry convey her aristocratic background, and somehow the eyes clearly have the look of determination that is the hallmark of her character. "
Nelofar believes that she relived her childhood and her mother's struggle while writing the book. "There are some very intimate anecdotes in my writing that my mother had to go back in time to remember, ones that had stayed with me as precious moments as a young girl." she said adding, " I remember how we set up the first salon together as a family, I recollect the hours I spent labeling the first products with hand typed strips. "
Quoting her mother's favourite lines from the book she said, "Let me take you through this place where history was made and dreams came true, while the paint still smelt fresh."
Being a witness to well known beauty- expert Shahanaz Hussain's meteoric success and her personal setbacks, no other writer could have done justice to her story, says Hussain's daughter Nelofar Currimbhoy.
"Writing a book is a long experience and quite frankly I began to feel at some point that no one could tell her story like me even though the narrative may be brushed with a daughters affection." said Nelofar adding, " No doubt, there will be many books written on her in the future too but making the debut is a touching moment for me."
Recalling the day she promised Hussain to pen down her biography Nelofar said, " She gifted me Gulzar’s biography written by his daughter Boski. When I opened the first page I found a note by her saying , "Promise me you will write a book on me someday."
Nelofar who is the President of Shahnaz Ayurveda said that her passion for writing and establishing her identity as a writer is above all other priorities for her.
"We all have our own parameters of success and fulfillment and for me it only means being a writer who leaves behind a body of work. The line on my epitaph ? ‘Nelofar Currimbhoy - Writer’"she said.
Hussain who refused to read the draft of the book before it was published had immense faith in her daughter's writing since her childhood, said Nelofar.
" She has my poems and scribbles framed on her walls and collected my letters to her which she says she would like to publish. Clearly she was convinced of my writing abilities but I got convinced after I got the feedback from Hacchett Publications."
Nelofar believes that writing the book was an effortless experience for her as compared to what she had expected. " It was as though I was spilling the life I saw as a young girl , as a daughter and as an active participant in the story I was telling . It was her life, it was my life, it was our life. That’s how I viewed it. That's how I wrote it." she said.
Quizzed about the choice of title for the biography, Nelofar said, "The book describes my reason when I say 'This is the story of my mother who was born a flame; a Flame so bright that none of life’s storms could douse her intensely free spirit. Every time a wave splashed on her she rose again with an irrepressible energy- the energy of life and passion."
Citing similar reasons for the choice of cover page she said, " I scanned through uncountable images stocked on the computer and nothing seemed to do justice . Finally there was this picture that touched the senses immediately. It has a certain iconic quality, the clothes and jewelry convey her aristocratic background, and somehow the eyes clearly have the look of determination that is the hallmark of her character. "
Nelofar believes that she relived her childhood and her mother's struggle while writing the book. "There are some very intimate anecdotes in my writing that my mother had to go back in time to remember, ones that had stayed with me as precious moments as a young girl." she said adding, " I remember how we set up the first salon together as a family, I recollect the hours I spent labeling the first products with hand typed strips. "
Quoting her mother's favourite lines from the book she said, "Let me take you through this place where history was made and dreams came true, while the paint still smelt fresh."
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