Chetan Bhagat unveils “12 Years”: A Novel Reflecting Modern Relationship Uncertainty at Sahitya Aajtak 2025
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A new exploration of love and commitment, Chetan Bhagat’s latest novel, “12 Years: My Messed-Up Love Story,” took center stage at the final day of Sahitya Aajtak 2025, held at the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium in Delhi. The acclaimed author discussed his departure from the familiar tropes of his previous works, such as “half girlfriend” and “Two States,” and delved into the complexities of contemporary relationships.
A Story of Confusion and the “Situationship”
Bhagat’s new book centers on a 33-year-old divorced stand-up comedian and his 21-year-old girlfriend, a professional in the finance sector. The narrative, he explained, is rooted in their dynamic and the frequently enough-blurred lines of modern romance. He coined the term “situationship” to describe the core of their connection – a relationship where both individuals are involved but grapple with uncertainty about its future.
“This book is a picture of the new era of relationships,” Bhagat stated. “It’s about a couple who are together, but confused about whether they should be together.”
Did you know? – Chetan Bhagat’s “Two States” was inspired by his own inter-caste marriage. The novel explores cultural differences and societal expectations within relationships, mirroring his personal experience.
Bridging the Generational Gap
The author acknowledged the challenge of presenting a love story relevant to Gen-Z while navigating his own experience at age 50. He initially worried about connecting with a younger audience but ultimately realized that age is not a barrier to understanding.
“I realized that age doesn’t matter when it comes to connecting with people,” Bhagat explained.He drew parallels to the political landscape, noting, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi is older than his main opponent, and in the Bihar election, we saw that Nitish Kumar is significantly older than Tejashwi. This means age is just a number.”
Bhagat emphasized the importance of empathy and avoiding the trap of self-importance. “When we start thinking we are the best and others are weak, that’s when our grip weakens,” he said. “I didn’t do that. I tried to understand this generation and create a complete human being within the story. And than, I succeeded, and today, the young generation is reading this book.”
Pro tip: – When writing dialog, read it aloud. This helps ensure it sounds natural and reflects the characters’ personalities. Bhagat likely uses this technique to capture authentic Gen-Z speech.
The Genesis of “12 Years”
The idea for the novel, Bhagat revealed, stemmed from a frustration with the predictability of typical love stories. “The biggest problem with love stories is that they all seem the same,” he shared with the audience at Sahitya Aajtak. “But this love story is different as the couples themselves are confused about whether they should be in the relationship. When that thought came to my mind, I started writing this book.”
Reader question: – Many authors struggle with writer’s block. Bhagat combats this by focusing on the core idea of his story, ensuring the narrative remains compelling and prevents stagnation.
Film Adaptation? A Secondary Concern
Responding to frequent inquiries about a potential film adaptation, Bhagat indicated that it wasn’t a primary focus. “whenever I go somewhere, people frequently enough ask me if a movie is being made on this book,” he said. “I tell them that I don’t care much about that. This is the age of screens and AI, and people are happy just reading a book written by a man. For me, that’s more i
