Last January, author and interior designer Nisha Nair Gupta wrote the book People of Mumbai, where she chronicled 55 real-life stories of people that encapsulated the spirit of Mumbai. The tales came from different backgrounds — a prostitute in Kamathipura, the kumbhar from Kumbharwada or the Victoria ride owner outside Taj Mahal hotel. Now, Gupta is set to pen another book, still untitled, with illustrations, this time for children. “I want kids to understand Mumbai better. And, what better way to know your city than through the lens or the stories of people who build their lives from scratch,” says Gupta. For instance, she talks about Salman Khan, a horse carriage driver on Juhu Beach.

An illustration from Nisha Nair Gupta’s People of Mumbai