When Hitlar Nadar set up his book stall in Matunga East, little did the Mumbaikar know how successful he would be because of his name. The spelling may be slightly different but the name has shocked many people over the years and they continue to ask him not once but twice to be sure they heard it right. Now, his popularity precedes himself and has in fact even helped his business, he admits. However, Nadar is much more than his name.

Over the last 20 years, he has been a familiar face along the footpath in the central suburb near Cafe Madras at the Matunga Circle. The footpath leading to his stall houses more than five bookstalls next to each other. There are others that have mushroomed along the way, but Nadar has been a constant, only switching places twice over the years before finally settling near a tree he nurtured. However, after facing a brief issue from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation a few years ago, he now sits a few paces away near Anand Bhavan restaurant, alongside a jolly Tamil garland seller, who keeps him company during the day.