Best Selling Authors In India (2025 List)

India is home to many famous writers whose books are loved by people all over the country. These authors write interesting stories that everyone enjoys reading. Some names you might have heard are Chetan Bhagat, Amish Tripathi, and Jhumpa Lahiri.

Their books are always at the top of the bestseller lists. Whether you like love stories, adventure, or tales from Indian mythology, these writers have something for everyone.

In this blog, we will talk about best selling authors in India and why their books are so popular.

Best Selling Authors In India And Their Novels

Here is the list of the top best-selling authors in India, which makes India’s literature more engaging and powerful:

Best-Selling Authors	Most Iconic Book	Genre
Chetan Bhagat	Five Point Someone	Contemporary, Romance
Amish Tripathi	Shiva Trilogy	Mythology, Fantasy
Arundhati Roy	The God of Small Things	Literary Fiction
Ruskin Bond	The Blue Umbrella	Children’s Fiction
R.K. Narayan	Malgudi Days	Fiction, Comedy
Ravinder Singh	I Too Had a Love Story	Romance
Durjoy Datta	Our Impossible Love	Romance, Drama
Preeti Shenoy	Life Is What You Make It	Women’s Fiction, Drama
Jhumpa Lahiri	Interpreter of Maladies	Literary Fiction
Sudha Murty	Wise and Otherwise	Children’s, Inspirational

Note: All of the content of this article is based on internet sources.

1. Chetan Bhagat

Chetan Bhagat is one of India’s most popular and commercially successful English-language novelists. 

He is mainly known for his relatable characters, casual writing style, and youth–centric themes, Bhagat has played an important role in making English fiction through her writing in India.

Here is more to know about Chetan Bhagat life:

DOB	April 22, 1974
Birthplace	New Delhi, India
Education	IIT Delhi (Mechanical Engineering), IIM Ahmedabad
Occupation	Author, Columnist, Screenwriter, Motivational Speaker
Languages of Writing	English
Estimated Book Sales	More than 10 million copies sold worldwide

Chetan Bhagat’s Popular Books

Here is the table of the most famous books by Chetan Bhagat:

Books Title	Genre	Year	Facts	Link
Five Point Someone	College Drama	2004	Inspired 3 Idiots film	Check on Amazon
One Night @ the Call Centre	Drama, Tech World	2005	Adapted into a Bollywood movie
The 3 Mistakes of My Life	Friendship, Cricket	2008	Based in Gujarat, adapted into Kai Po Che!	Check on Amazon
2 States	Romance, Culture Clash	2009	Autobiographical, made into a movie	Check on Amazon
Revolution 2020	Politics, Education	2011	Love triangle with a political twist	Check on Amazon
Half Girlfriend	Romance, Social Divide	2014	Adapted into a Bollywood movie	Check on Amazon
The Girl in Room 105	Thriller	2018	Introduced suspense and crime	Check on Amazon
400 Days	Mystery Thriller	2021	Part of his thriller series	Check on Amazon

2. Amish Tripathi

Amish Tripathi is a best selling Indian author who is famous for bringing Indian mythology and ancient history to life through modern storytelling. 

In his amazing series, Shiva Trilogy, and Ram Chandra, he wrote Indian mythological fiction and became one of India’s most outstanding authors.

Here is more to know about their life:

DOB	October 18, 1974
Birthplace	Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Education	IIM Calcutta (MBA), St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai
Occupation	Author, Diplomat, Former Banker
Languages of Writing	English
Estimated Book Sales	More than 7 million copies sold worldwide
Awards	Raymond Crossword Book Award, Society Young Achievers Award

Amish Tripathi’s Popular Books

Here is the table of the most famous books by Amish Tripathi:

Books Title	Genre	Year
The Shiva Trilogy (Series)The Immortals of MeluhaThe Secret of the NagasThe Oath of the Vayuputras	Mythological Fiction, Fantasy, Thriller, Epic Drama	201020112013
The Ram Chandra (Series)Scion of IkshvakuSita: Warrior of MithilaRaavan: Enemy of AryavartaWar of Lanka	Mythological Fiction, Political Sense, Feminist Narrative, Psychological Drama, War Saga	2015201720192022
Dharma: Decoding the Epics	Non-fiction, Philosophy	2020

3. Arundhati Roy

Arundhati Roy is an Indian author, essayist, and activist, best known for her Booker Prize-winning novel The God of Small Things. 

Her powerful writing and voice have become well-known in both literary and political circles, which combine fiction, activism, and bold commentary on issues like human rights, the environment, and social justice.

Here is more to know about their life:

DOB	November 24, 1961
Birthplace	Shillong, Meghalaya, India
Education	Delhi School of Architecture
Occupation	Author, Essayist, Political Activist
Languages of Writing	English
Estimated Book Sales	More than 6 million copies worldwide
Prizes	Booker Prize, Norman Mailer Prize, Sydney Peace Prize

Arundhati Roy’s Popular Books

Here is the table of the most famous books by Arundhati Roy:

Books Title	Genre	Year
The God of Small Things	Literary Fiction	1997
The Ministry of Utmost Happiness	Political Fiction	2017
Field Notes on Democracy	Non-Fiction, Political Commentary	2009
Capitalism: A Ghost Story	Investigative Journalism, Socio-political Critique	2014
Listening to Grasshoppers	Political Essays, Human Rights Discourse	2009
My Seditious Heart	Political Essays, Collected Works	2019
Azadi: Freedom. Fascism. Fiction	Political Essays, Contemporary Social Issues	2020

4. Ruskin Bond

Ruskin Bond is a legendary Indian author who is well known for his heartwarming stories, dreamy prose, and strong connection to nature and hill life. 

His writing, travelling for more than seven decades, has given a feeling of the lives of generations of Indian readers. Their timeless tales are mainly loved by children and young adults, though readers of all ages value their work.

Here is more to know about their life:

DOB	May 19, 1934
Birthplace	Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh
Education	Bishop Cotton School in Shimla
Occupation	Author, Poet, Novelist
Languages of Writing	English
Estimated Book Sales	More than 3 million copies sold globally
Awards	Sahitya Akademi Award, Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Lifetime Achievement Award, John Llewellyn Rhys Prize

Ruskin Bond’s Popular Books

Here is the table of the most famous books by Ruskin Bond:

Books Title	Genre	Year
The Room on the Roof	Coming-of-Age Fiction, Young Adult	1956
Vagrants in the Valley	Young Adult Fiction, Adventure	1957
The Blue Umbrella	Children’s Literature, Fable	1980
Rusty the Boy from the Hills	Short Stories, Semi-Autobiographical Fiction	2002
Time Stops at Shamli	Short Stories, Literary Fiction	1989
Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra	Memoir, Nature Writing, Autobiographical Tales	1991
A Face in the Dark and Other Hauntings	Horror, Paranormal Short Stories	2004

5. R.K. Narayan

R.K. Narayan was a fantastic person of Indian literature in English. His work opened the doors for Indian English fiction to grow both in India and abroad.

He is best known for creating the fictional South Indian town of Malgudi, he described the charm of everyday life, middle-class struggles, and Indian traditions with humour, simplicity, and warmth.

Here is more to know about their life:

DOB	October 10, 1906
Birthplace	Madras (now Chennai)
Education	Maharaja’s College, University of Mysore
Date of Death	May 13, 2001
Occupation	Author, Novelist, Columnist
Languages of Writing	English
Estimated Book Sales	–
Awards	Sahitya Akademi Award, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan, A.C. Benson Medal (UK), Honorary Doctorates

R.K. Narayan’s Popular Books

Here is the table of the most famous books of the Malgudi Series by R.K.Narayan:

Books Title	Genre	Year
Swami and Friends	Coming-of-Age Fiction, Literary Fiction	1935
The Bachelor of Arts	Bildungsroman, Social Fiction	1937
The English Teacher	Autobiographical Fiction, Romantic Realism	1945
The Guide	Philosophical Fiction, Romance, Drama	1958
Malgudi Days	Short Stories, Slice-of-Life	1943
Talkative Man	Satire, Novella	1986
The Vendor of Sweets	Social Commentary, Literary Fiction	1967

6. Ravinder Singh

Ravinder Singh is a modern Indian author who is actually famous for his first novel, I Too Had a Love Story, a real-life-inspired love story that touched millions of hearts. 

He is believed as one of India’s top voices in romantic fiction. He worked with relatable themes, emotional depth, and informal writing; his books have become bestsellers among the youth.

Here is more to know about their life:

DOB	February 4, 1982
Birthplace	Calcutta, West Bengal
Education	Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College, Bidar, Indian School of Business
Occupation	Author, Former IT Professional
Languages of Writing	English
Estimated Book Sales	More than 2 million copies of books have been sold in India

Ravinder Singh’s Popular Books

Here is the table of the most famous books by Ravinder Singh:

Books Title	Genre	Year
I Too Had a Love Story	Romantic Memoir	2008
Can Love Happen Twice?	Romance	2011
Like It Happened Yesterday	Fiction	2013
Your Dreams Are Mine Now	Romance	2014
This Love That Feels Right	Romance	2016
Will You Still Love Me?	Romance	2018
The Belated Bachelor Party	Humour, Fiction	2019
Write Me A Love Story	Romance	2021

7. Durjoy Datta

Durjoy Datta is an excellent Indian author and screenwriter, well-known for his interesting romantic fiction that has become more popular with young adults. 

His narratives are usually filled with themes of love, loss, and self-discovery, which capture the problems of modern relationships. Besides being an author, he is also an entrepreneur.

Here is more to know about their life:

DOB	February 7, 1987
Birthplace	Mehsana, Gujarat, India
Education	Mechanical Engineering (Delhi Technological University); MBA (MDI Gurgaon & Frankfurt School of Finance)
Occupation	Author, Screenwriter, Entrepreneur
Languages of Writing	English, Hindi
Estimated Book Sales	More than 1.5 million copies sold
Awards	Crossword Book Award, Popular Choice Award

Durjoy Datta’s Popular Books

Here is the table of the most famous books by Durjoy Datta:

Books Title	Genre	Year
Of Course I Love You! Till I Find Someone Better	Contemporary Romance, Campus Fiction	2008
Ohh Yes, I’m Single! And So is My Girlfriend	Romantic Comedy, Relationship Fiction	2011
You Were My Crush! Till You Said You Love Me!	Youth Romance, Humour	2011
If It’s Not Forever! (w/ Nikita Singh)	Romance, Tragedy, Mystery	2012
Till the Last Breath…	Romantic Tragedy, Medical Drama	2012
Someone Like You (w/ Nikita Singh)	Young Adult Romance	2013
Hold My Hand	Innocent Romance, Emotional Fiction	2013
Now That You’re Rich… Let’s Fall in Love	Romance, Career-Focused Fiction	2013
When Only Love Remains	Romantic Drama, Letters-Based Fiction	2014
World’s Best Boyfriend	Teenage Love, Enemies-to-Lovers	2015
Our Impossible Love	Romance, Social Issues, Coming-of-Age	2016
The Girl of My Dreams	Romantic Thriller, Psychological Fiction	2016
The Boy Who Loved	Deep Romance, Family Drama	2017
The Boy with A Broken Heart	Sequel, Romance with Emotional Depth	2017
Wish I Could Tell You	Romance, Self-Discovery, Social Media	2019
World’s Best Girlfriend	Romantic Fiction, Youth Relationships	2023

8. Preeti Shenoy

Preeti Shenoy is a bestselling Indian author, speaker, and self-taught artist. Her works, involving both fiction and nonfiction, have been mostly loved by readers worldwide.

She has been a top best–selling author in India and has been more popular on Forbes India’s longlist of the most significant celebrities.

Here is more to know about their life:

DOB	December 21, 1971
Birthplace	Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Education	Studied at Kendriya Vidyalayas; self-taught artist
Occupation	Author, Speaker, Illustrator
Languages of Writing	English
Awards	‘Indian of the Year’ (2017), AutHer People’s Choice Award (2021)

Preeti Shenoy’s Popular Books

Here is the table of the most famous books by Preeti Shenoy:

Books Title	Genre	Year
34 Bubblegums and Candies	Non-fiction, Real-life Stories	2008
Life is What You Make It	Inspirational Romance, Mental Health	2011
Wake Up, Life is Calling	Psychological Fiction, Sequel	2012
Tea for Two and a Piece of Cake	Romantic Fiction, Women’s Fiction	2012
The Secret Wish List	Women’s Fiction, Self-discovery	2012
The One You Cannot Have	Romantic Drama	2013
It Happens for a Reason	Contemporary Fiction, Single Motherhood	2014
A Place Called Home	Family Fiction, Women’s Fiction	2015
A Hundred Little Flames	Literary Fiction, Family Saga	2017
Love A Little Stronger	Relationship Stories, Anthology	2018
The Rule Breakers	Feminist Fiction, Coming-of-Age	2018
When Love Came Calling	Romantic Adventure, Emotional Fiction	2019
Wake Up, Life is Calling (Reprint)	Inspirational Fiction	2020
The Magic Mindset	Self-help, Personal Development	2021
All the Love You Deserve	Romantic Fiction, Emotional Drama	2023

9. Jhumpa Lahiri

Jhumpa Lahiri is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author whose works focus on themes of identity, displacement, and cultural competition, constantly defining the experiences of Indian authors in America.

Her prose is widely known for its clarity, emotional depth, and simple view of human relationships.

Here is more to know about their life:

DOB	July 11, 1967
Birthplace	London, United Kingdom
Education	B.A. in English Literature (Barnard College), M.A. & Ph.D. in Renaissance Studies (Boston University)
Occupation	Author, Professor
Languages of Writing	Italian
Estimated Book Sales	More than 15 million copies sold
Awards	Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, National Humanities Medal

Jhumpa Lahiri’s Popular Books

Here is the table of the most famous books by Jhumpa Lahiri:

Books Title	Genre	Year
Interpreter of Maladies	Short Story Collection, Literary Fiction	1999
The Namesake	Novel, Immigration Fiction	2003
Unaccustomed Earth	Short Story Collection, Realistic Fiction	2008
The Lowland	Historical Fiction, Literary Novel	2013
In Other Words	Memoir, Linguistic Autobiography	2016
Whereabouts	Novel, Translated Literary Fiction	2021

10. Sudha Murty

Sudha Murty is a famous Indian author known for her simple or deep storytelling, mainly in regional and English literature.

Besides her literary contributions, she has become widely popular for her vast philanthropic work as the chairperson of the Infosys Foundation, helping with education, healthcare, and rural development across India.

Here is more to know about their life:

DOB	August 19, 1950
Birthplace	Shiggaon, Karnataka, India
Education	B.E. in Electrical Engineering (IIT Bombay)
Occupation	Author, Social Worker, Philanthropist
Languages of Writing	English, Kannada
Estimated Book Sales	More than 6 million copies sold
Awards	Padma Shri, Karnataka Rajyotsava Award

Sudha Murty’s Popular Books

Here is the table of the most famous books by Sudha Murty:

Books Title	Genre	Year
Wise & Otherwise: A Salute to Life	Non-fiction, Real-life Stories	2002
The Old Man and His God	Memoir, Essays	2006
How I Taught My Grandmother to Read and Other Stories	Children’s Stories, Inspirational Tales	2004
The Day I Stopped Drinking Milk	Non-fiction, Short Stories	2012
Dollar Bahu	Fiction, Family Drama	2001
Gently Falls the Bakula	Fiction, Emotional Drama	2008

Conclusion

Many best selling authors in India have together created a unique identity for themselves and their literature for readers, which includes mythological stories as well as modern love stories.

Their words, stories or any series are very inspiring, entertaining and mysterious, there is some very deep meaning hidden behind every word. Your interest starts developing while reading them.

Have you started reading yet? Or if you like to read new things, listen to new sounds, feel very good, then these authors are the best for you.

So go ahead, choose your favourite best-selling author and learn more about them.

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