"The Namesake" inspired by...my cousin!

When Jhumpa Lahiri's book The Namesake was released, almost everyone in my family promptly noticed the uncanny resemblance of its protagonist's life to my cousin Vishaan's. His parents, my uncle and aunt, immigrated to Boston in the 70s, where Vishaan grew up and, it was conjectured, dated Lahiri.

With the movie now in theatres, the media got wind of the speculation, and reached him to confirm it. Turns out, it's true. It's reported here, and in several Indian newspapers.

What's fascinating to me is how such issues generally surface - or find significantly wider interest - when the film is released, not when the book it's based on is published. Remember how the Da Vinci Code roused protests after it was made into a film?

But a more important question. Vishaan is now trying to keep the nickname he dropped, just like his character in the film, a tight secret. I happen to know it. Should I do People magazine, or Ebay?