My Bollywood Dream by Avani Dwivedi Press Release

A Bollywood film brings people together and inspires a little girl’s budding
ambition in this heartfelt and joyful picture book debut from a new talent.
AVANI DWIVEDI
It’s Friday night, and on the bustling streets of
Mumbai, a girl heads out with her family to the
movie theater. As she rides through the winding
blocks with her maa, baba, and bhai, old melodies
fill the car. And as she captures the sights and
sounds of the city with her camera, she imagines
a movie unfolding before her eyes—including a
choreographed dance sequence atop a long line of
cars! When they arrive at the screening, the room
is abuzz with people from all walks of life, waiting
to lose themselves in the show. And finally comes
the best part: time for everyone to jump up and
dance! First-time author-illustrator Avani Dwivedi
offers a buoyant, whimsically illustrated love
letter to Mumbai and Bollywood—and to children
On sale August 8, 2023
HC: 978-1-5362-2842-7 • $18.99 ($24.99 CAN)
everywhere eager to take mastery of their dreams.
Ages 3–7 • 40 pages
Also available as an e-book
Avani Dwivedi is an illustrator and

author of picture books. She grew
up in Mumbai, India, and later moved
to the US to pursue her dream of
becoming an artist. A graduate of
Maryland Institute College of Art with
a BFA in illustration, she says that even
when away from home, she holds on to her “most precious
gems”—memories of her childhood, the lived experience
of being a South-Asian woman, and her love for creating
whimsical art. Avani Dwivedi lives in New York City. Illustrations © 2023 by Avani Dwivedi
A Note from AVANI DWIVEDI,
the Author-Illustrator of My Bollywood Dream
Bollywood has always been a part of my life. My childhood in Mumbai was filled with listening to old Bollywood
music over the evening radio with my mom and watching the latest Bollywood action flicks with my dad. Every
time songs like “Chal Chaiya” (Dil Se, 1998) and “Oh Oh Jane Jana” (Pyaar Kiya Toh Darna Kya, 1998) would come
on the TV, my brother and I would break out into a dance! After moving to the US, Bollywood became a bridge
between myself and the diverse desi community I grew to adopt abroad. Regardless of our backgrounds or
origins, Bollywood is the common thread shared by members of the desi diaspora. It has influenced us in many
ways, and I believe it’s important to share with the world.
Bollywood, also known as Hindi cinema, is part of the larger Indian cinema. Its name is a blend of Bombay
(now known as Mumbai) and Hollywood. To me, My Bollywood Dream is a love letter written to Mumbai and
to Bollywood, and to how together they shaped my childhood. Through this story, I wish to take the reader on
a journey through the streets of my hometown to the screens. The reader is introduced to the Hindi movie
industry’s genre-mixing masala film: a roller coaster of emotions with well-choreographed dance sequences
and action scenes, a drama of fates with the promise of happiness in the end. I incorporated these ingredients
to create an experience of both Bollywood and Mumbai. While growing up, I always imagined myself living the
lives of the vibrant characters that appeared on the screen; the girl in this book is inspired by those memories
of myself. In the story, we see a young girl traveling through the city to the movie theater. Along the way, she
captures all the sights and sounds in her camera and envisions a Bollywood movie unfolding.
While making this book, I moved back to Mumbai, which gave me an opportunity to observe the people and
the surroundings of the city from a new perspective. I drew inspiration from many Bollywood films, such as
evergreen films like Pyaasa (Guru Dutt, 1957), modern classics like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (Aditya Chopra,
1995), and famous action films like Singham (Rohit Shetty, 2011). Scenes from these films and many more reflect
our protagonist’s experiences and tell a story that is based right in the heart of Mumbai and Bollywood.
Disappointingly, female characters in Bollywood typically play second fiddle and are utilized for decorative
purposes that minimally enrich the story, almost always serving as a love interest for the hero. Furthermore,
female directors are practically nonexistent. An important goal for this book is to bring female representation to
the forefront of Bollywood—an idea typically absent in the industry and missing from my childhood. Our young
female protagonist is an aspiring director who explores the bounds of her own imagination, creating her own
stories and casting anyone she fancies. My Bollywood Dream is built on the dreams of this little girl who sees
the world for more than what it is.
Illustrations © 2023 by Avani Dwivedi

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A Bollywood film brings people together and inspires a little girl’s budding

Avani Dwivedi is an illustrator and

Illustrations © 2023 by Avani Dwivedi

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