She has managed to piss off many, including superstars Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan and even newcomer Sonam Kapoor, with her candid views on them on her blog. But trust Shobhaa De not to back down, despite the backlash (the latter called her a 'porn' writer, while SRK insisted she was a joke!).

"My views are independent and free of any prejudice. I have never belonged to any camp (and that covers politics, society and Bollywood!), and my views are taken seriously because of this one reason. My job is to provide an honest opinion; I am not anybody's PR agent. I give credit where and when it is due most generously, but people are free to debate or disagree. I stand by every single word, so deal with it!" she says.

The writer and fashion designer, of course, couldn't be bothered with her critics at this point of time, given the rave reviews she got for her new (semi-western of sorts) collection at the Colombo fashion week. "Several store owners and buyers wanted to stock the line, but these were just samples. I just wanted to test the waters," she informs.

A radical departure from her sari line, 'Spiritual' is in keeping with the global mood. "It's time to get back to basics; strip fashion of excessive adornment and heavy embroidery. To keep the lines as simple as possible, the textures pure and the look relaxed. Perfect for meditation!" she adds, revealing that she does plan to branch out into western wear for a niche clientele.

Having debuted as a fashion designer not too long ago, De says she's having the time of her life in her relatively new avatar. "It has been an exhilarating experience and loads of fun," she says. Has it been tough for her to prove herself given she has many critics? "That's part of the game. It does not bother me. Designing is not my primary vocation. It is one of the several things I enjoy doing," she adds.

As for 2009, besides two more book releases, she says we can expect several surprises. "There's never a dull DE in my life. I thrive on the unexpected, the challenging, the impossible!" she signs off.