Jerry Pinto

Jerry Pinto Biography

Jerry Pinto is an Indian writer and journalist based in Mumbai. He writes poetry, prose and children's fiction works in English language. A recipient of    Sahitya Akademi awards and National film awards, he is best known for Helen: The Life and Times of an H-Bomb (2006), which won National film awards for Best Book on Cinema. Em and the Big Hoom (2012), Surviving Women (2000) and Asylum and Other Poems (2003) are other major books. Em and the Big Hoom won Sahitya Akademi awards in English. Windham–Campbell Literature Prizes in 2016, Crossword Book Award 2013 and The Hindu Literary Prize 2012 are other major awards received by the same book, which is his first published novel too.

Jerry Pinto hails from Goa and belongs to a Roman Catholic family. He grew up in Mahim Mumbai, where he completed his studies. He also holds LLB from Government Law College, Mumbai. He is a journalist by profession along his writing career. He is in a long-term relationship with theatre personality and critic Shanta Gokhale, mother of famous actress Renuka Shahane and mother-in-law of famous Bollywood villain Ashutosh Rana.

As a writer Jerry came to limelight for the first time after his book Helen: The Life and Times of an H-Bomb (2006), about the great Bollywood actress and dancer Helen went on to win National Film awards for Best Book on Cinema. His first novel Em and the Big Hoom (2012) also accumulated him numerous honours. He co-authored Leela: A Portrait with Leela Naidu in 2009. Asylum and Other Poems (2003) is his collection of poems. His book “Murder in Mahim” has been acquired by Viacom for a film adaptation.

Published: March 15, 2020

Updated: March 15, 2020