---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I need to have some depth in my…"
description: "\"I need to have some depth in my characters. That's why they are all Bengalis. I can't imagine writing a book with someone called Saxena as the hero.\" —..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/416/upamanyu-chatterjee-27315_book_i-need-to-have-some-depth-in-my-characte_1916581.png"
---

#  I need to have some depth in my characters. That's why…

![“I need to have some depth in my characters. That's why they are all Bengalis. I can't imagine writing a book with someone called Saxena as the hero.” quote by Upamanyu Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/416/upamanyu-chatterjee-27315_book_i-need-to-have-some-depth-in-my-characte_1916581.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/416/upamanyu-chatterjee-27315_book_i-need-to-have-some-depth-in-my-characte_1916581.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/416/upamanyu-chatterjee-27315_book_i-need-to-have-some-depth-in-my-characte_1916581.png)

> “I need to have some depth in my characters. That's why they are all Bengalis. I can't imagine writing a book with someone called Saxena as the hero.”

[Upamanyu Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upamanyu-chatterjee/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The author uses cultural specificity to deepen character authenticity, implying that diverse backgrounds enrich storytelling.

**In simple terms:** Diverse cultures add depth to characters.

Key Takeaway

Write with authentic cultural detail.

Themes

writing culture authenticity

Mood

inspirational practical

Type

creative educational

When to use this quote

- novel writing
- screenwriting
- teaching creative writing

Key Concepts

character development literary diversity

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you research cultures responsibly?
- What benefits arise from varied character backgrounds?

A Different Perspective

Relying on stereotypes can limit character complexity.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Depth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depth/) [Hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hero/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing a book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-a-book/)

## Related quotes

> [To enjoy my music, you need depth and emotionality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/to-enjoy-my-music-you-need-depth-and-emotionality/)

[Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/)

> [Acting, according to me, gets better with time and age. The more experiences you have in life, the more you have seen, the better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soni-razdan/acting-according-to-me-gets-better-with-time-and-age-the-more/)

[Soni Razdan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soni-razdan/)

> [All topics, issues, and subjects in 'The Room' add to the depth of the characters in the movie, and they are equally important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-wiseau/all-topics-issues-and-subjects-in-the-room-add-to-the-depth-of-the/)

[Tommy Wiseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-wiseau/)

> [I think bringing depth to characters means really needing to find out who this girl is, what is she passionate about, what makes her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-smart/i-think-bringing-depth-to-characters-means-really-needing-to-find-out/)

[Amy Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-smart/)

> [“Metaphors introduce symbolic elements that add layers of meaning and depth to how characters feel in any given situation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-niles/metaphors-introduce-symbolic-elements-that-add-layers-of-meaning-and/)

[Calvin Niles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-niles/)

> [A good content always allows me to reach the depth of the characters, and thus, the performance looks more relatable and truthful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pankaj-tripathi/a-good-content-always-allows-me-to-reach-the-depth-of-the-characters/)

[Pankaj Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pankaj-tripathi/)

> [Nothing mattered ... but writing books, and living the kind of life that made it possible to write them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/nothing-mattered-but-writing-books-and-living-the-kind-of-life-that/)

[Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/)

> [“One of the vital things for a writer who’s writing a book, which is a lengthy project and is going to take about a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/one-of-the-vital-things-for-a-writer-who-s-writing-a-book-which-is-a/)

[Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/)

> [Doctoral training is devoted almost entirely to learning to do research, even though most Ph.Ds who enter academic life spend far more time teaching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bok/doctoral-training-is-devoted-almost-entirely-to-learning-to-do/)

[Derek Bok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bok/)

> [Writing a book is a brilliant thing because once you've finished it, you've done it, and there's the potential for it to go on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/writing-a-book-is-a-brilliant-thing-because-once-you-ve-finished-it/)

[Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/)

> [I never have written every day. When I'm writing a book, I write Monday through Friday. I always try to take Saturday and pretend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-never-have-written-every-day-when-i-m-writing-a-book-i-write-monday/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [These are rules I've picked up along the way to help me remain invisible when I'm writing a book, to help me show rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/these-are-rules-i-ve-picked-up-along-the-way-to-help-me-remain/)

[Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/)

> [When I turned 35, I thought, 'Mozart was dead at 36, so I set the bar: I'm going to start writing a book on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/when-i-turned-35-i-thought-mozart-was-dead-at-36-so-i-set-the-bar-i-m/)

[Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/)

> [Writing a book is an adventure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/writing-a-book-is-an-adventure/)

[Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/)

> [As a rule, I am very skeptical of tying books to anniversaries. I don't think readers care. I also feel that it just about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-larson/as-a-rule-i-am-very-skeptical-of-tying-books-to-anniversaries-i-don-t/)

[Erik Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-larson/)

## More by Upamanyu Chatterjee

> [Well, life is dark, isn't it? Mostly, it's dreadful. At the same time, death is funny too. I mean, look at the fuss we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/upamanyu-chatterjee/well-life-is-dark-isn-t-it-mostly-it-s-dreadful-at-the-same-time/)

[Upamanyu Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upamanyu-chatterjee/)

> [The more languages you know, the less likely you are to become a terrorist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/upamanyu-chatterjee/the-more-languages-you-know-the-less-likely-you-are-to-become-a/)

[Upamanyu Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upamanyu-chatterjee/)

> [“He absent-mindedly fondled his crotch and then whipped his hand away.No masturbation,he suddenly decided.He tried to think about this but sustained logical thought on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/upamanyu-chatterjee/he-absent-mindedly-fondled-his-crotch-and-then-whipped-his-hand-away/)

[Upamanyu Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upamanyu-chatterjee/)

> [People should have literary and cultural taste and should not bomb hotels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/upamanyu-chatterjee/people-should-have-literary-and-cultural-taste-and-should-not-bomb/)

[Upamanyu Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upamanyu-chatterjee/)

> [For me, comedy is richer and larger than anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/upamanyu-chatterjee/for-me-comedy-is-richer-and-larger-than-anything-else/)

[Upamanyu Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upamanyu-chatterjee/)

> [Amidst one's daily clutter, one doesn't usually reflect on the splendour of being free because - naturally - one has to get on with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/upamanyu-chatterjee/amidst-one-s-daily-clutter-one-doesn-t-usually-reflect-on-the/)

[Upamanyu Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upamanyu-chatterjee/)

> [“In his essay,Agastya had said that his real ambition was to be a domesticated male stray dog because they lived the best life.They were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/upamanyu-chatterjee/in-his-essay-agastya-had-said-that-his-real-ambition-was-to-be-a/)

[Upamanyu Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upamanyu-chatterjee/)

> [“You feel even more naked and alone, he said silently, when you reveal yourself, a gratuitous act, for the strength and comfort you look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/upamanyu-chatterjee/you-feel-even-more-naked-and-alone-he-said-silently-when-you-reveal/)

[Upamanyu Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upamanyu-chatterjee/)

> [Anyone who has grown up in Delhi knows it's horrible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/upamanyu-chatterjee/anyone-who-has-grown-up-in-delhi-knows-it-s-horrible/)

[Upamanyu Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upamanyu-chatterjee/)

> [Governance is complex, difficult, and on the whole, thankless - why ever should the Bright Young Things leave the management of their hotels, newspapers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/upamanyu-chatterjee/governance-is-complex-difficult-and-on-the-whole-thankless-why-ever/)

[Upamanyu Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upamanyu-chatterjee/)

> [I feel completely at home in the absurdities of India.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/upamanyu-chatterjee/i-feel-completely-at-home-in-the-absurdities-of-india/)

[Upamanyu Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upamanyu-chatterjee/)

> [It's a huge headache - the more money you have, the more hassles. I find money very uncomfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/upamanyu-chatterjee/it-s-a-huge-headache-the-more-money-you-have-the-more-hassles-i-find/)

[Upamanyu Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upamanyu-chatterjee/)

> [“God is a first-rate bureaucrat, one of the best. In all matters, He sees the truth, but is yet to take a decision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/upamanyu-chatterjee/god-is-a-first-rate-bureaucrat-one-of-the-best-in-all-matters-he-sees/)

[Upamanyu Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upamanyu-chatterjee/)

> [So much better to write pen on paper; you can do it anywhere, say, while stuck at the airport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/upamanyu-chatterjee/so-much-better-to-write-pen-on-paper-you-can-do-it-anywhere-say-while/)

[Upamanyu Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upamanyu-chatterjee/)

> [“The Collectorship of Madna is the seventh post that he has held in eight years. He is quite philosophic about the law that governs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/upamanyu-chatterjee/the-collectorship-of-madna-is-the-seventh-post-that-he-has-held-in/)

[Upamanyu Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upamanyu-chatterjee/)

[Explore all 20 Upamanyu Chatterjee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upamanyu-chatterjee/)

## More Book quotes

> [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/)

[Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/)

> [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/)

[Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/)

> [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/)

[Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/)

> [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/)

[Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/)

> [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/)

[Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/)

> [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/)

[Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/)

> [I don't think I have made as much of my life as I should have. I should have written more books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/i-don-t-think-i-have-made-as-much-of-my-life-as-i-should-have-i/)

[Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/)

> [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/)

[Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/)

> [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [There are great books in this world and great worlds in books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/there-are-great-books-in-this-world-and-great-worlds-in-books/)

[Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/)

> [The purpose of this book is to supply, in the form suitable for laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-purpose-of-this-book-is-to-supply-in-the-form-suitable-for-laymen/)

[Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/)

> [But I think that of all the literature that I studied, the book that did more than any other to fire my enthusiasm was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/but-i-think-that-of-all-the-literature-that-i-studied-the-book-that/)

[Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/)

> [It's amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-amazing-to-see-things-that-are-suggested-in-the-book-fully/)

[Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/)

> [“But I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/but-i-ve-developed-a-great-reputation-for-wisdom-by-ordering-more/)

[Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/)

[Browse all 29,378 Book quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I need to have some depth in my characters. That's why they are all Bengalis. I can't imagine writing a book with someone called Saxena as the hero.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Upamanyu Chatterjee"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/upamanyu-chatterjee/i-need-to-have-some-depth-in-my-characters-that-s-why-they-are-all/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Book"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/upamanyu-chatterjee/i-need-to-have-some-depth-in-my-characters-that-s-why-they-are-all/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/416/upamanyu-chatterjee-27315_book_i-need-to-have-some-depth-in-my-characte_1916581.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/416/upamanyu-chatterjee-27315_book_i-need-to-have-some-depth-in-my-characte_1916581.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/416/upamanyu-chatterjee-27315_book_i-need-to-have-some-depth-in-my-characte_1916581.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I need to have some depth in my characters. That's why they are all Bengalis. I can't imagine writing a book…” — Upamanyu Chatterjee",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Upamanyu Chatterjee",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upamanyu-chatterjee/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I need to have some depth...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/upamanyu-chatterjee/i-need-to-have-some-depth-in-my-characters-that-s-why-they-are-all/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/upamanyu-chatterjee/i-need-to-have-some-depth-in-my-characters-that-s-why-they-are-all/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
