Andaleeb Wajid is a highly productive and versatile contemporary author. Hailing from Bengaluru, she has published over forty novels in just over 15 years, cementing her status as one of India’s most prolific writers today. Her works span a wide range of genres, including young adult fiction, romance, horror, and speculative fiction, and are often praised for their authentic portrayal of modern Indian life.
Born in Bengaluru, Wajid’s passion for writing began at the young age of 10. She attended Baldwin Girls’ High School and then Jyoti Nivas College, where she studied Communicative English. Her college years were marked by a deep involvement in creative writing and theatre. She later earned a Master of Arts in Literature from Madurai Kamaraj University. In her personal life, Wajid married her cousin in an arranged marriage at 19 and has two sons. Her life has been shaped by profound losses, including the death of her father at age 12, and the tragic passing of both her husband and mother-in-law to COVID-19 within five days in 2021. This devastating experience became the subject of her 2025 memoir, Learning to Make Tea for One: Reflections on Love, Loss and Healing.
Literary Career and Key Works
Wajid’s professional writing career began with a series of short stories published in the Deccan Herald’s youth supplement. Her debut novel, Kite Strings, was published in 2009, and its autobiographical elements and focus on a young Muslim girl from an orthodox family established themes that would become central to her work.
Over the years, she has produced a remarkable body of work, with notable novels including the celebrated More Than Just Biryani and the time-travel young adult series The Tamanna Trilogy. She has also explored the horror genre with books like House of Screams and the graphic novel Scare Walk. A significant milestone in her career was the publication of her romance trilogy, the Jasmine Villa Series, by Westland. More recently, her young adult novel The Henna Start-Up won multiple prestigious awards in 2024, including the Neev Book Award and a Crossword Book Award. Her novel, Asmara’s Summer, was also adapted into the Amazon Prime Video series, Dil Dosti Dilemma, which further highlights the broad appeal of her stories.
Wajid is known for her “hybrid author” approach, successfully combining traditional publishing with major houses like Penguin Random House and Harper Collins with self-publishing. She utilises this dual strategy to maintain creative control and reach readers more quickly. Her self-published romance series, Reluctant Romances, has been particularly successful, proving the viability of the self-publishing model in the Indian market.
Wajid’s writing is characterised by its versatility and a few recurring themes. Her most dominant genre is romance, often featuring contemporary Muslim protagonists. She is also a prominent voice in young adult fiction, focusing on coming-of-age stories. Across her work, she emphasises women-centric narratives, exploring the tension between family expectations and personal ambitions, and the role of technology in empowering women. Her characters are often navigating the intersection of tradition and modernity, a reflection of the reality for many in modern India.
While her work frequently features Muslim families, Wajid does not feel the burden of “normalising” her characters. She sees herself as part of the mainstream literary landscape, simply telling authentic stories from her own cultural background. This approach has been significant in normalising Muslim characters in Indian fiction without resorting to stereotypes.