Ajay Chowdhury

Ajay Chowdhury is the author of a much-loved series starting with THE WAITER, a detective novel set in London and Kolkata, the recipient of the BAME HarvillSecker Crime Writing Prize in association with Bloody Scotland. The series is published by HarvillSecker and is currently in TV development with Moonage Pictures.

Ajay was born and brought up in Calcutta and Bombay. After studying in the States, Ajay moved to London in 1986 where over the years he settled, married, had two daughters, divorced, re-married and acquired a step-daughter. His professional background is in tech where he’s been involved in several high-profile companies and co-founded Shazam. Always passionate about the arts, Ajay has also directed several plays and is the author of a children’s book AYESHA AND THE FIREFISH inspired by stories he used to tell his daughters, published by Penguin in India and brough to stage adaptation in San Francisco.

Ajay is the Artistic Director of the Rented Space Theatre Company that he founded in London in 1986. He has directed several plays on the Fringe in London, including The Merchant of Vembley – a retelling of the Merchant of Venice set amongst the Hindu and Muslim population in Wembley. The lead character went on to be nominated for an Off West End Best Actor award. Ajay has also served on various government bodies including the Arts Council and Historic Royal Palaces.