We Were Lucky in Those Days. Girls Liked Being Kissed

Whether it’s facing a raging bull or being stuck in an elevator with Donald Trump, poet-politician-filmmaker Pritish Nandy is game for anything that life can possibly throw at him – just so long as it’s not an underwater safari.

- Mallica Singh

If your house was on fire, and you could save only three things, what would you run out with?

Mojo, my Labrador with a damaged hip; a copy of Alice in Wonderland; and the razor I shave my head with.

If you could be in a movie of your choice, which one would you pick and what character would you like to play?

Taxi Driver, Scorsese’s best. Travis Bickle.

If you could invite four famous people (could be dead or living) to dinner, who would you choose?

Mata Hari, Marilyn Monroe, Madhubala and Jhumpa Lahiri. After that it may not just end up being a dinner though...

If you could come back from the dead and haunt someone, who would it be? Why would you pick that particular person?

Haruki Murakami. Sheer envy. He writes so well!

What’s something you’re really bad at and wish you weren’t?

Music. I know it’s the staircase to heaven but I can never find my way up it. I love music but I can’t sing to save my life or play an instrument with any degree of competence. I am just not gifted, I guess.

Please share a personal fact or idiosyncrasy no one could ever guess about you...

I see myself first and foremost as a poet. Not as a journalist or as an editor. Not as a filmmaker. Not as a Member of Parliament or a humanitarian. I look at life as only a poet would do.

If you were forced to live the life of another celebrity for a day who would you pick and why?

John Lennon. He was a wonderful poet and one of the greatest singers and composers of all time. It is very rare that one combines so much talent. The only other person I can think of is Bob Dylan. Again, amazing talent!

Is there something you’ve always wanted to try but have been too scared to?