About Pritha Mandal
Pritha Mandal is a structural Engineer and a published author based in Gurgaon, India. She discovered her talent for writing narratives at the age of 19. She wrote her first fanfiction work on the popular platform Wattpad. Her debut novel ‘Undamaged’ has garnered positive reviews, something that has motivated her to work on the prequel to her latest release and also further books in the franchise. She mainly focuses on writing male vigilante characters or thrillers layered with psychological romance.
LiFT: Tell us about your book, the journey of writing it, and its content.
Pritha Mandal: ‘Undamaged’ is a contemporary psychological fiction set in present-day New Delhi and Gurgaon. It explores the mental health struggles of a 26-year-old charming medical resident, Anirudh Chaudhary. On the outside, he seems composed, intelligent, and successful. But internally, he is struggling with PTSD, panic attacks, nightmares, and the weight of a painful past.
I had thought of this storyline since November 2022. This concept/ idea was meant to be a web-series submission for the SWA, but due to some personal circumstances, I had thought of writing this as a book, drawing inspiration from real-life observations. It took me around 4 months to complete the manuscript and finally publish it in December 2025.
The focal content of my book is that this isn’t about a second chance at love. It’s about whether someone who feels broken from within can ever trust again. It explores second chances at healing, at self-worth, and at confronting the darkness that lives inside.
LiFT: Why did you choose this title?
Pritha Mandal: The reason for arriving at this title was simple: how therapy and a second chance at love gradually heal Anirudh from the scars of his past, which had left him severely traumatized. I also feel that this is an apt title for a psychological fiction that deals with mental health struggles in detail. The entire plot revolves around the past trauma that has shaped him the way he is, and then learning to rediscover himself.
LiFT: When did you realize that you wanted to be a writer, and what was your inspiration behind it?
Pritha Mandal: It was in the year 2019 when I started reading Wattpad fanfiction novels after watching the After movie, which is the most-read book on Wattpad. I started writing my own work, ‘Mi Encanta, Manuela’, which was the first work that I ever wrote. The writing was simple, and it was also a fanfiction. As years passed, the idea of ‘Undamaged’ developed with time and underwent a lot of changes while writing, which became my most ambitious project.
LiFT: Where do you see yourself ten years down the line in the world of literature?
Pritha Mandal: I would like to see my books as best-sellers, and it would be a dream come true for me if my books get adapted into a movie or web series.
LiFT: How important do you think marketing and the quality of a book are in promoting it and increasing its readership?
Pritha Mandal: I think it can be useful to some extent, but not wholly. Ultimately, it is you who has to sell and pitch your books if you are an indie author. One must build their author profile and then connect with the appropriate genre audience.
LiFT: What message do you want to convey to people through your writing?
Pritha Mandal: My writing always focuses on issues happening in the lives of people belonging to my age group. This enables me to highlight the struggles faced and the taboo subjects easily through my plot. Even some of the events in my stories might seem coincidental because my motive is to write narratives based on real-life observation and events happening around, and I feel that the Young adults can connect to that.
LiFT: What do you do apart from writing?
Pritha Mandal: Apart from writing, my main profession is that of a structural engineer. I am currently working at a reputed MNC in Gurgaon. Other than this, I also engage in fitness and watching movies on weekends.
LiFT: What activities do you resort to when you face writer’s block?
Pritha Mandal: To be honest, I have not faced this struggle much. But as I watch more engaging content or come across something interesting on my social media feed that catches my attention, I note it down. Later, this could be used as part of my narrative. So, this way, I am never short of ideas.
LiFT: What if your story were to be adapted into a movie? Who would you want to work as the director or actors in it?
Pritha Mandal: I would definitely want Aryan Khan to direct my ‘Undamaged’ novel installment because I feel that he belongs to my generation and could understand the narrative better.
For the roles of Anirudh and Aman Chaudhary, I would love Aryaman Deol(Bobby Deol’s son) to portray them if he ever plans to make his Bollywood debut. And for the role of Harsh Baghla, the perfect choice is Vivaan Bedi (Rajat Bedi’s son). As for Ayushi, I feel Wamiqa Gabbi would be perfect. Kareena Kapoor to play Dr. Seema, actor Alisha Chopra to portray Ishika Arora, Arjun Rampal to play Ani and Aman’s dad, and Tabu to play Anamika Chaudhary.
LiFT: Are you working on your next book? If so, could you tell us something about it?
Pritha Mandal: I am currently working on the prequel to ‘Undamaged’, which will dig deeper into Anirudh’s affair with Ishika and also on Harsh’s character and new characters from the past. This will also have a positive plot twist in the end that would merge with the timeline of the sequel (the third book).
LiFT: What are your suggestions for budding writers and poets to help them improve their writing skills?
Pritha Mandal: I would say focus on your genre and understand it better.
Click here to order Pritha Mandal’s Book – Undamaged
