About Hrishikesh Barhate
Hrishikesh is a writer and technologist who explores the intersection of human resilience and innovation. With a career rooted in transforming complex ideas into meaningful impact, from generative AI initiatives to ambitious, record-setting projects, he approaches both technology and storytelling with the same philosophy: push boundaries, question assumptions, and reimagine what’s possible.
His debut novel, After 28: What Remains?, reflects this mindset through a deeply personal narrative that examines trauma, masculinity, and the nonlinear journey of healing. Set in Mumbai, the book is a raw exploration of survival and the courage it takes to rebuild after loss. Through his writing, he aims to give voice to difficult conversations around mental health, vulnerability, and self-forgiveness.
Beyond his professional pursuits, he is also an ardent gamer, a discipline that sharpens his adaptability, precision, and strategic thinking. Whether in technology, storytelling, or personal growth, his work is driven by a commitment to authenticity and a belief in the extraordinary potential that lies beyond the familiar.
LiFT: Tell us about your book, the journey of writing it, and its content.
Hrishikesh Barhate: “Sometimes the hardest person to forgive is the one who did everything just to survive.”
This is a story(novel) about what happens when survival mode becomes your entire life. About the courage it takes to admit you’re drowning even when you look like you’re swimming. About the night, two siblings lay on a hard floor and discussed whether ending it all would be easier than continuing.
But it’s also about what comes after you finally ask for help.
Set in Mumbai, After 28: What Remains? It is a raw, unflinching exploration of trauma, masculinity, and the messy, non-linear journey of healing. It’s about learning to forgive yourself, your parents, even those who destroyed you. About transforming pain into purpose. About discovering that you don’t have to be “fixed” to be worthy of love.
“What remains after loss is not just wreckage. It’s also the stubborn human capacity to rebuild.”
LiFT: Why did you choose this title?
Hrishikesh Barhate: The book is inspired by my own life events and the title came from the very question that I asked myself last year that I’m 28 and is the purpose of all things that I’m currently doing or where do I wish to go from here?
LiFT: When did you realize that you wanted to be a writer, and what was your inspiration behind it?
Hrishikesh Barhate: Writing a book wasn’t exactly a goal or motivator. I was rather more focused on getting my thoughts written down. I thought that it would be more sensible for me to give it a fictional structure rather than writing a daily journal.
LiFT: Where do you see yourself ten years down the line in the world of literature?
Hrishikesh Barhate: Maybe write more such interesting books and articles, primarily inspired by my life events.
LiFT: How important do you think marketing and the quality of a book are in promoting it and increasing its readership?
Hrishikesh Barhate: Both are equally important as I believe beautiful stories can get lost on the ever expanding digital space…so marketing is certainly required to bring the work in front of the right set of readers.
LiFT: What message do you want to convey to people through your writing?
Hrishikesh Barhate: My message is simple: hope is worth believing in. No matter how deep the loss or how overwhelming the despair, life can be rebuilt, piece by piece, even when you or the world thinks you’re beyond saving.
LiFT: What do you do apart from writing?
Hrishikesh Barhate: I am primarily an entrepreneur running 2 firms in the IT field.
LiFT: What activities do you resort to when you face writer’s block?
Hrishikesh Barhate: I don’t write on a fixed schedule; writing, for me, is something I turn to when I need to unload or process what I’m carrying. So when writer’s block shows up, I don’t force it. I step away and reconnect with activities that restore my flow; gaming, long walks, or simply observing people and conversations around me. Giving myself that space helps the words return naturally, and when they do, they’re far more honest and grounded.
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?
Hrishikesh Barhate: If After 28: What Remains? were ever adapted into a film, I’d love to see a director who can handle emotional depth with sensitivity, someone like Zoya Akhtar, Anurag Kashyap or Shoojit Sircar, who excel at portraying raw human experiences without diluting their truth.
For the cast, I imagine actors capable of carrying quiet pain and internal conflict with honesty. Vicky Kaushal or Rajkummar Rao would bring remarkable depth to the protagonist’s journey. For the younger sister’s role, I can see Tanya Maniktala or Ahsaas Channa portraying that blend of vulnerability and strength with great authenticity.
Ultimately, I’d want filmmakers and performers who can hold the emotional weight of the story with care, because this narrative is built more on truth and healing than spectacle.
LiFT: Are you working on your next book? If so, could you tell us something about it?
Hrishikesh Barhate: Yes, I’m currently working on my next book. It’s a science-fiction novel, and while it’s still early in the process, I can share that it explores how technology and humanity collide in unexpected ways. The story blends emotional depth with futuristic themes, and, like my first book, it looks closely at the human side of transformation. I’m excited about it because it allows me to merge my background in tech with my love for storytelling in a completely new way.
LiFT: What are your suggestions for budding writers and poets to help them improve their writing skills?
Hrishikesh Barhate: My advice to budding writers is simple: just start. Don’t wait for the perfect idea, the perfect moment or the perfect draft, because perfection is the biggest barrier to expression. Write honestly, write imperfectly and let your voice grow through the process. Every writer begins somewhere, and the only way to improve is to keep showing up on the page.
Click here to order Hrishikesh Barhate’s Book – After 28: What Remains?
