This author found her own book being sold as a pirated copy – what happened next went viral

Delhi’s Connaught Place is usually full of shoppers, tourists, and book lovers. But this time, it's in news for a very different reason.

A video from CP went viral showing something that sounds almost unbelievable: an author bargaining for a pirated copy of her own book. It was funny, unexpected, and very relatable. But it also carried a serious message about book piracy.

So what actually happened?

Author Radhika Agrawal was at a bookstall when she saw a pirated copy of her book Red Flags and Rishtas: A Desi Rom Com being sold there.

Instead of reacting in a negative way, she decided to handle it with humour.

In the video, she asks the seller the price. He says ₹350.
She smiles and says, “Author discount milega?”

Then she casually tells him, “Ye meri book hai.”

The vendor is clearly surprised. After a short conversation, he agrees to sell it to her for ₹100. What could have been an awkward situation suddenly became a funny one. That simple reaction is what made people love the video.

Why people are talking about it

The clip wasn’t just funny. It also made people think about piracy.

Later, she wrote on Instagram:

“How would you rate my bargaining skills? Jokes aside, piracy is one of those things that feels harmless until you realize that it threatens the entire publishing industry and harms the author in more ways than you can imagine. It chips away at author sales, royalties, and even future book deals. Books run on numbers, and those numbers matter more than we like to admit.”

Her message was simple: pirated books may look harmless, but they directly affect authors’ income and future work.

Social media reaction

The video crossed 10 million views. People called it a “plot twist,” joked about bargaining with the actual writer, and shared mixed reactions. Some laughed at the situation, while others pointed out that piracy is a real problem.

In the end

It was a small moment at a bookstall, but it turned into something much bigger online. The video mixes humour with an important reminder that buying original books helps support authors.

Sometimes, a simple reaction and a smile can turn an awkward moment into a message that reaches millions.
Disclaimer: This report is based on a viral social media video and publicly available posts. The authenticity of the clip and the identities of the individuals involved have not been independently verified.

Thumb image: Instagram