We took a few minutes to quiz Vikas Swarup, author of Q&A, on which the fantastic film Slumdog Millionaire is based. Here’s what he had to say…

Are you a cat or a dog person?

Both. I grew up with a Doberman Pinscher who was so spoilt he wouldn’t sleep on anything less than a dunlopillo mattress and pillow and a cat who was so independent minded she would disappear for days without a trace.

Do you have children?

I have two sons, Aditya and Varun.

Who is your best friend?

My wife Aparna.

Would you describe yourself as a romantic or a pragmatist?

A pragmatic romantic.

What is your best trait?

My sense of equanimity. I don’t hanker after things. I have always believed in the Hindi proverb: Without asking a pearl may fall into your lap; but if you beg, you may not even receive alms.

And your worst trait?

Not being able to say no.

Do you like writing?

I agree with Dorothy Parker who is reported to have said: “I hate writing. I love having written!”

What would you save if your house were on fire?

My computer, I suppose, the one with my latest unfinished manuscript.

What is your favourite food?

I love Indian cuisine, for its sheer variety and sophisticated and subtle use of spices.

Are you an outdoorsy person?

I love the great outdoors, but am forced to spend most of my life indoors.

Have you ever read a book that changed your life?

No, but I wrote one called Q&A, which did.

What was it like seeing your book dramatized on screen?

It was like putting a face to a name. Like meeting friends you have known all your life but never seen before.

What is your favourite piece of music?

Pink Floyd’s Comfortably Numb. I also like ghazals and instrumental music.

Do you have a favourite character in literature?

I’ve always been fascinated by Sherlock Holmes. He is quirky, yet compelling. At one level he is almost non-human and at another he is capable of strong emotions. He is vain and conceited, yet brilliant and engaging.

Which city or town in India do you love most?

New Delhi. For its wide open spaces and its ability to constantly reinvent itself.

Hollywood or Bollywood?

Hollywood for the high tech wizardry; Bollywood for the spectacle and emotions.

Who would you like to play you in your biopic?

Me, Myself and I.

Who would you invite to your imaginary dinner party?

Mandela, Madonna and Mahatma Gandhi.

Is there anything from your past you would like to change?

The past cannot be changed, only re-imagined.

What’s your favourite joke?

Person One: Knock-knock
Person Two: Who’s there?
Person One: Control freak. Now YOU say ‘Control freak who’!