Celebrities explore Kolkata Book Fair

SRIJIT MUKHERJI, DIRECTOR
I generally visit every stall at the fair, especially the ones stocking books on cinema, film studies, film history etc. Visiting the fair is a childhood habit. I just love to see so many books and people at one place! My first visit is usually a recce, and the second one is when I buy books. But spending time at the little magazine stalls is a must, as there I meet many friends who are into serious writing. They work with a lot of conviction. They are like independent filmmakers and I'm always by their side.

GARGEE ROYCHOUDHURY, ACTRESS
I felt like Maharani Gayatri Devi when the man sketching portraits at the fair literally pleaded with me to pose for a sketch. And imagine, I agreed! But I was happy with the result.He made a beautiful sketch of mine! As for the rest, I am hooked to online shopping when it comes to clothes, electronics and household stuff, but for books, it is always our very own boi mela. From childhood, the fair has been a can't-miss event.I would be oblivious to the dust and the crowd and just admire the books. Even today, it remains the same. This year, I bought the complete series of Humayun Ahmed, my current favourite.

SIDHU, MUSICIAN
Visiting the book fair and spending hours at the arts corner has been my passion for years now. All my friends are there at the art corner and I spend hours singing with them. And I love the way they draw on T-shirts! So many visitors at the fair join us to sing and the whole atmosphere is so friendly! I just love that.Moreover, I visit a few stalls to buy a few books for my friends. Srijato is my fave poet, so I bought his book this year. I am also a great foodie; having momo and batter fry from some food stall at the fair is a must.

SUDIPTAA CHAKRABORTY, ACTRESS
The smell of new books gives me a high! Before buying books, I smell the pages.That takes me to a different plane. I have a gang of kids who wait for the book fair because I buy them a bunch of books every year. That apart, I have no better friend than a book and so I end up buying a lot. I love how young boys and girls paint T-shirts or make lovely artifacts at the fair. One gets to see so much of talent here. I love the spirit at the fair, which is nothing less than a festival! Long live books and the Kolkata Book Fair!

KAMALESWAR MUKHERJEE, DIRECTOR
I visit the book fair at least thrice every year -twice on my own, and once with my family. This year, I bought a book by Humayun Ahmed. He is my fave Bangladeshi author, dramatist, screenwriter, playwright and filmmaker. And trust me, after reading the first page, I got hooked. In fact, many told me, `Why don't you sit in a corner and read; why do it in the middle of the lane?' But I was oblivious of my surroundings! Such was his writing. It was also quite thrilling when a year after Chander Pahar's release, people came to me to say that they had liked the film.