Roshan Sethi's Debut Novel 'The Simp' Explores Invisibility and Ambition in Hollywood

Roshan Sethi, a physician, director, and author, has released his debut novel 'The Simp: A Novel Without a Hero,' published by Vogue. The book follows Raj, an entertainment assistant in Los Angeles who strives to be indispensable to a powerful couple while secretly pursuing his own stardom. Sethi draws on his medical training to craft complex, unsympathetic characters, citing influences from 19th-century literature like Thackeray's 'Vanity Fair' and Jane Austen. He describes his writing process as 'try harder, fail harder,' avoiding outlines to maintain emotional spontaneity. Sethi, who works as an oncologist in Boston for nine weeks a year and lives in LA with his partner Karan, expresses ambivalence about Los Angeles, comparing it to 'a strip mall in the desert.' He reflects on the diversity discourse in Hollywood since 2020, noting a pendulum swing from racist to less racist and back. Sethi admits he does not read contemporary fiction, preferring 18th- and 19th-century works. The interview was edited and condensed.