She didn't write my: Ankur Warikoo clears air over ghostwriting allegations

A recent social media post by writer Nishtha Gehija, claiming to have ghostwritten Ankur Warikoo's second book in under three months, sparked widespread attention online. Gehija, a Chartered Accountant turned writer, shared her experience in a LinkedIn post, showcasing her ability to manage full-time work while ghostwriting books for premium clients.

In her post, she stated, “I wrote Ankur Warikoo's second book in less than three months. Many struggle to even begin their book, while others, less smart or qualified, manage to write theirs. What's the difference? Execution over intelligence.” Gehija also promoted her consulting services for aspiring authors, adding that she exclusively works with select clients.

The post quickly went viral, prompting surprise and curiosity among netizens. A user shared a screenshot on platform X (formerly Twitter), writing, “Wait! Really would want Ankur Warikoo to clarify this. The book is written by a ghostwriter?”

Ankur Warikoo, author of bestsellers Do Epic S**t and Get Epic S**t Done, addressed the claims with humor and candor. He wrote, “Nishtha is lying. She didn’t write my second book—she wrote the first one too.” Warikoo praised Gehija’s efforts and revealed that her contribution was acknowledged in his second book.

He shared an image of the acknowledgment page, where he credited her for her work: “Nishtha, the one who actually wrote this book. We spent three months on multiple Zoom calls.” Warikoo explained the process involved transcribing recorded calls into book content, calling it an arduous task that Gehija executed commendably.

Warikoo clarified that using ghostwriters was never a secret and that his future books would also follow this approach. When questioned about calling himself an "author," he quipped, “Author seemed easiest to suggest I publish books. If you have a better description, let me know.”