Featured BiographyImage source: StarsUnfolded
Quick Info
Date of birth7 January 1948
Age77 Years
BirthplaceSatara district, Maharashtra, India
ProfessionJournalist, Columnist, Novelist
NationalityIndian
Marital statusMarried
SpouseDilip De
FamilySix children, youngest of four siblings
Shobhaa De Biography
Shobhaa De is an Indian novelist, columnist and social commentator known for frank portrayals of urban life and relationships. Beginning her career in her
Early life and backgroundShobhaa De was born Shobha Rajadhyaksha on 7 January 1948 in Satara district, Maharashtra. Raised in a Saraswat Brahmin family, she is the youngest of four siblings. Her father served as a district court judge. De studied psychology and earned a degree from St. Xavier's College in Mumbai. She grew up in Girgaon, Mumbai, which is listed as her hometown.
Career
De began working at a young age, entering modelling when she was about 17. By age 20 she had moved into journalism, writing advice-style columns and contributing to society magazines. When she was 23 she launched three magazines of her own: Stardust, Society and Celebrity, publications that positioned her at the intersection of Bollywood, social commentary and popular culture.
In the 1980s De started writing for The Times of India’s Sunday magazine and went on to contribute as a freelance columnist for numerous publications. She became widely known for a fortnightly column in The Week and for candid, often provocative essays that addressed sex, power and the lives of socialites in modern India.
As a novelist De has produced a long list of books spanning several decades. Her fiction and non-fiction titles include Starry Nights, Socialite Evenings, Sisters, Sultry Days, Shooting from the Hip, Small Betrayals, Second Thoughts, Selective Memory, Surviving Men, Speedpost and many later works such as Shobhaa at Sixty, Shethji, Shobhaa: Never a Dull De and Small Betrayals (Hay House India edition). Her writing frequently explores themes of ambition, desire and the intersection of private life and public glamour.
Her involvement in television includes script work in the 1990s for serials such as Swabhimaan and Shanti, which aired on Doordarshan. She has also been described in international press as India’s equivalent of Jackie Collins, a label reflecting her reputation for frank portrayals of sex and society.
Public profile
De’s profile has been recognized through multiple lists and honours. She has been named among India’s most trusted people by Readers’ Digest and has featured repeatedly on influential lists, including DNA’s 50 Most Powerful Women and the Absolute Power List. In 2019 Penguin Random House created a named imprint for her, and she has been included in compilations of India’s most impactful cultural figures by lifestyle publications such as Verve and India Today’s education site.
Her public life has also included outspoken commentary on national and cultural matters. She is known for forthright opinions on politics, films and social trends, and for an unflinching presence on social media and in print.
Personal life
De is married to Dilip De, a Bengali businessman in the shipping industry; he is her second husband. She is a mother of six children, including four daughters and two sons. One daughter is the editor of India’s edition of Hello! magazine and was associated with launching an Indian edition of Grazia. Two of her children named in public records are Radhika and Sudhir; another daughter, Avantika, is married to Pramod and the couple have three children. De is also a grandmother.
Interests and public activities
De’s tastes span popular music and cinema, with an expressed appreciation for international and Indian artists and films. She has been active on the literary festival circuit and serves on advisory boards for several festivals in India and abroad. She has attended and supported charity events, including fundraisers such as amfAR gatherings in Mumbai.
Controversies
Over the years De’s blunt commentary has prompted public debate and sometimes formal complaints. Her tweets and columns on a range of political, cultural and social topics have occasionally generated controversy, drawing responses from public figures and media outlets. These episodes have been part of her high-profile public persona.
Latest updates
By 2019 De had been honored with a dedicated imprint under the Penguin Random House umbrella and continued to be cited among India’s influential cultural figures. Her recent published titles include Shobhaa: Never a Dull De and Small Betrayals (Hay House India editions), reflecting an ongoing publishing presence into the 2010s and beyond.
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Recent Work
Hay House India edition
2014Hay House India edition
2013Hay House India edition
2010Career Highlights
- Launched Stardust, Society and Celebrity magazines in her early twenties.
- Became a bestselling English-language novelist in India with titles that explore power, sex and social life.
- Wrote scripts for television serials including Swabhimaan and Shanti.
- Received a named publishing imprint from Penguin Random House in 2019.
- Featured on multiple lists of influential and powerful Indians by media outlets and magazines.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When was Shobhaa De born?
Shobhaa De was born on 7 January 1948.
What is Shobhaa De known for?
Shobhaa De is known for journalist, Columnist, Novelist.
What is Shobhaa De’s marital status?
Shobhaa De's marital status is listed as Married.
Who is Shobhaa De married to?
Shobhaa De is publicly listed as married to Dilip De.
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