B-wood is the theme of the ongoing World Book Fair in Delhi and filmi books seem to be flying off the shelves.There's a filmi twist to the World Book Fair at Pragati Maidan. The literary bonanza, which goes on till March 4, celebrates 100 years of Indian cinema as its theme this year. From commissioning biographies to printing screenplays, adding audio CDs to coffee table books and even approaching production houses with novels that can be converted to scripts, publishing houses are embracing Bollywood with open arms, and readers are reciprocating by increasingly picking up books on cinematic topics.

"In 2005, we ventured into cinema with "Still Reading Khan", SRK's biography by Mushtaq Sheikh," says Ajay Mago of Om Books International, adding, "At that time, everyone said Indian consumers don't buy coffee table books for `3,000. But I've sold 30,000 copies of the book globally."And now, the Indian customer isn't thinking twice before picking up Bollywood titles, says Ankit Nagore of Flipkart, adding, "We're a country that loves Bollywood. Biographies of people like AR Rahman sell really well, and perhaps that's why even publishers are looking at releasing more Bollywood titles."

In the coming months, there are at least 10 new titles expected, including one called "The Bachchans", a book on the entire Bachchan parivaar. SMM Ausaja, who knows the Bachchan family well, has been working on the book for three years, and it's expected to release on Amitabh's birthday this October. Says Mago, the publisher, "The book has been on hold for six months due to Aishwarya's pregnancy. We're trying to request the family to see if we can have pictures of Beti B and some bit on her in the book too now."

Upcoming books also include an authorized Shammi Kapoor biography, Anil Kapoor's autobiography, a book on Rajinikanth by Penguin and Bhaichand Patel's "Bollywood's Top 20", among others.

Screenplays are also a growing subgenre within the Bollywood books category, says Kapil Kapoor of Roli Books, adding, "After biographies and books on cinematic themes, screenplays sell the most. Publishers are also adding interesting elements to it." For instance, Om Books, in association with Vidhu Vinod Chopra Productions, is coming out with a book and DVD combo on "Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam", followed by books on "Kaagaz Ke Phool" and "Chaudhvin Ka Chand". HarperCollins India is also releasing books on "Amar Akbar Anthony" and "Chashme Baddoor".

Books being made into movies is becoming common now. Says Hemali Sodhi of Penguin Books, "We have an in-house team that approaches production houses with books that can be converted into films, and respond to queries from them. Jaishree Misra's "Rani" is a book whose rights we sold." Lipika Bhushan from Harper Collins India says, "We've sold the rights of two Anuja Chauhan books - one to Red Chillies, and another to Sa Re Ga Ma. Vidhu Vinod Chopra has bought the rights of Major General Gagandeep Bakshi's book "Siege of Warwan" from us."