Rushdie talks about books, politics and lovelife

AUTHOR SPEAK: Rushdie feels that getting two Booker prizes in one year is unlikely.

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New York: World acclaimed author Salman Rushdie talks to CNN-IBN's Anirudh Bhattacharyya on not being shortlisted for Man Booker prize this year for Enchantress of Florence.

Anirudh Bhattacharyya: What's your take on Enchantress of Florence not making to the Booker prize of this year?

Salman Rushdie: I think the idea of getting two Booker prizes in the same year is something which is not very likely. I had always expected in a way that what benefited one book would damage the chances of another.

Anirudh Bhattacharyya:: I remember talking to you a couple of years back, you were optimistic at that time that the situation in Kashmir could improve. Things did calm down but suddenly violence has erupted in the valley again.

Salman Rushdie: This is one of the great intractable subjects of the world it seems, like the Israeli-Palestinian question, no matter how much one might wish to see it solved, I don't see it getting solved anytime soon. I am sorry to say.

Anirudh Bhattacharyya: You are looking at the race between Obama and McCain and now you have a new factor in Sarah Palin.

Salman Rushdie: I am not interested with Sarah Palin, but I also think that it is unlikely in the end to be a determining factor. I think that was a little bubble of somebody unknown entering the race. So, of course a lot of attention went there for a minute but I don't think in the end that is going to be what the election is decided on. My own instinct is that it is still going to end up going towards Democrats. There are so many reasons this year.

Anirudh Bhattacharyya:You have been through four marriages and four divorces, do you see marriage again in future?

Salman Rushdie: Nope, but I am shortsighted.