Twinkle Khanna, the bestselling author and former actor, has revealed with her signature wit that a childhood filled with broken bones and a family tradition of unusual names played a pivotal role in shaping her identity as the beloved 'Mrs Funnybones'. In a recent candid conversation, she connected the dots between her past injuries and her present success as a writer.
From Broken Bones to Books: The Unlikely Foundation
Khanna disclosed that she has suffered a remarkable number of injuries throughout her life. "I have broken every bone in my body -- every bone. There's nothing left. I've broken my tailbone, I've broken my collarbone, I've broken my arms, my legs. I have 40 ligament tears on my left, 10 on my right," she stated. The first break happened at age eight or nine after a fall from a window.
While these accidents caused significant pain, they also forced a young Twinkle into stillness, creating an unexpected opportunity. "It gave me, I would say, time to just sit and read. Because I couldn't really move, so I had no choice. And it made me the person I am today," she reflected. This period of convalescence planted the early seeds for her deep love of words and storytelling.
The 'Terrible' Naming Tradition and Creating 'Mrs Funnybones'
Khanna also humorously addressed her family's quirky approach to names. With a mother named Dimple and a late aunt named Simple, she admits, "It's terrible, I agree." She has, however, playfully continued this tradition herself. Her famous pen name, 'Mrs Funnybones', was born out of necessity when she joined Twitter and found 'TwinkleKhanna' already taken.
"I just thought to myself, 'Okay, maybe I am perhaps slightly funny, and I have all these funny bones'. And that's where it kind of joined and became Mrs. Funnybones," she explained. She also coined the name 'Baba Twink Dev' for herself, taking full responsibility for these creative monikers.
A Decade of 'Funnybones' and the Mastery of Craft
What started as a newspaper column over a decade ago evolved into the bestselling 2015 book "Mrs Funnybones". Now, ten years later, she has released the sequel, "Mrs Funnybones Returns", published by Juggernaut. Khanna, who is married to superstar Akshay Kumar, said the decision for a sequel came after realizing how much the first book meant to readers during the tour for her novel "Welcome to Paradise".
Despite her long success as a columnist, Khanna, who also works as an interior designer, pursued formal education to hone her craft. She earned a Master's in Creative Writing from Goldsmiths College, University of London, last year. She notes that while her academic journey drastically changed her approach to fiction, her distinctive non-fiction voice in her columns remained reassuringly the same.
Khanna, a mother of two, has also perfected a strict writing routine, guarding her early morning hours fiercely. "I get up very early, it could be 6-6:30. If it's 6, I immediately get a cup of coffee, I sit down, and I start writing," she shared, emphasizing that this discipline allows her to balance her multiple roles.
Looking ahead, the author is already 30,000 words into her sixth book and next novel. She views life not as a grand wish-list but as a practical 'to-do list', focusing on preparation and execution rather than outcomes. From broken bones to bestsellers, Twinkle Khanna's journey exemplifies finding humour and purpose in life's unexpected twists.
