Meet Wasim Akram, Hema Malini among other stars at Sharjah book fair

Wasim Akram, Arundhati Roy and Gulzar are among the several Indian continent celebrities who will attend the 36th edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) that runs from November 1 to 11.
These personalities will hold a series of meet-ups and interactions with the fair visitors. Acknowledged by many as one of the greatest bowlers of all time, former captain of Pakistan's international cricket team, cricket commentator and TV personality, Wasim Akram, is one of the main highlights of the 11-day book fair. The left-arm fast bowler will interact with his fans for the first time at the SIBF. 
The guest list from the rest of the subcontinent includes Booker prize winner and activist, Arundhati Roy; stalwarts of Indian cinema, Hema Malini and Asha Parekh; Grammy award winning poet, Gulzar; award-winning author and journalist, Mohammed Hanif from Pakistan; India's highest selling female novelist and the most influential celebrities in the country on the Forbes longlist, Preeti Shenoy; and many more.
"The event is gearing up for a strong series of headlining acts by these international figures, in what promises to be a real page turner," said organisers in a Press statement.
Vikas Swarup, the multi-award-winning fiction writer and current Indian High Commissioner to Canada; Sarfraz Manzoor, acclaimed author, journalist, documentary maker and broadcaster from Pakistan; and Rajdeep Sardesai, one of India's most prominent media personalities, will also be participating.
Known figures in Indian cinema like director and screenwriter Kamal and director and author M.T. Vasudevan will fly in to share personal experiences from one of the world's largest film industries.
Famous Indian politician and economist, Jairam Ramesh, and one of India's favourite quiz masters, Derek O'Brien, will also be in attendance. 
"The SIBF seeks to spread the joy of reading, promote cross cultural understanding and bring the finest authors, publishers and artists to the Middle East from all over the world," added organisers.
The Sharjah Book Fair celebrates its 36th anniversary this year under the theme 'A World inside my Book', "focusing on the infinite possibilities of the written word".
reporters@khaleejtimes.com