Roli Books — Books, Authors & Publisher Overview India's Premier Art & Illustrated Book Publisher · Est. 1978 · 1,200+ Titles
1,200+Titles Published
Est. 1978In India
4Imprints
6+CMYK Stores
Legion d'HonneurFounder Award
RL
India
Independent Publisher
Roli Books — In Short
Roli Books is one of India's most distinguished independent publishing houses — and its undisputed leader in art, photography, and illustrated books. Founded in New Delhi in 1978 by Pramod Kapoor, it began by producing India's first full-colour children's books and textbooks, before evolving into a specialist publisher of beautifully crafted books on Indian heritage, culture, cuisine, history, and the arts. With over 1,200 titles across four imprints, an international distribution network, and its own retail chain of CMYK bookstores — including a location inside the iconic Taj Mahal Hotel, Mumbai — Roli Books occupies a unique and irreplaceable niche in Indian publishing.
What Roli Books is Known For (In Practice)
India's leading art & illustrated book publisher — Market leaders in premium coffee table books on Indian art, architecture, photography, and cuisine for over four decades
First colour children's books in India — Roli Books pioneered full-colour offset printing for Indian children's books in 1978, a then-revolutionary step that set the standard for the industry
CMYK bookstore chain — The only Indian publisher to own its own chain of specialist bookstores, CMYK, across six-plus locations — including a store at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Mumbai
International reach & co-publishing — Long-standing relationships with European and North American publishers; distributed internationally via ACC Art Books from offices in the UK and the US
Prestigious author list — Khushwant Singh, Ruskin Bond, Raghu Rai, Pushpesh Pant, M.J. Akbar, Pavan K. Varma, Vir Sanghvi, and Naresh Fernandes have all published under Roli's imprints
Founder honoured by France — Pramod Kapoor was awarded the Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur in 2016 — France's highest civilian honour — for his lifelong commitment to promoting Indian heritage through books
Roli Books is the only Indian publisher to own and operate its own retail bookstore chain — CMYK — which stocks 20,000+ titles in art, design, photography, and architecture from the world's leading illustrated-book publishers.
What Kind of Books Does Roli Books Publish?
Roli Books specialises in visually led, premium-quality books on Indian and international subjects. Their catalogue sits at the intersection of scholarship and design:
Key Imprints of Roli Books
Roli Books publishes across four distinct imprints, each with its own editorial character:
Lustre Press — The flagship imprint for visually-led illustrated books; art, photography, architecture, heritage, and premium coffee table editions on Indian and global subjects
Lotus Collection — Non-illustrated non-fiction: biographies, current affairs, history, and politics; home to some of India's most respected public-affairs writing
India Ink — The fiction imprint, acquired in 2004; publishes quality literary fiction with an eclectic, independent sensibility — authors include Allen Sealy and Manju Kapoor
Roli Junior — Children's books imprint launched in 2009; illustrated, age-appropriate titles for young Indian readers — a return to Roli's original roots in children's publishing
Popular Books Published by Roli Books
| Book | Author / Creator | Category | Why It's Notable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gandhi: An Illustrated Biography | Pramod Kapoor | Illustrated Biography | A visually rich, scholarly account of Gandhi's life by Roli's founder; widely gifted and internationally distributed |
| India: The Cookbook | Pushpesh Pant | Cookbook | Named by The New York Times as one of the best cookbooks of the year; a landmark reference on Indian cuisine |
| The Sikhs | Khushwant Singh & Raghu Rai | Illustrated Heritage | One of Roli's earliest and most celebrated collaborations — text by Khushwant Singh, photographs by Raghu Rai |
| When a Tree Shook Delhi | Manoj Mitta & H.S. Phoolka | Current Affairs / History | A definitive account of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots; a significant work of Indian political journalism and memory |
| The Steel Frame | Various Contributors | History / Administration | A history of the Indian Administrative Service; widely used as a reference on Indian governance and civil service history |
| India Through Iconic Maps | Roli Books Editorial | Illustrated / Cartography | Over 250 exquisite historical maps of India; a collector's edition that exemplifies Roli's commitment to visually spectacular publishing |
| Mussoorie & Landour: Days of Wine and Roses | Ruskin Bond & Ganesh Saili | Illustrated / Travel | A beloved illustrated tribute to Mussoorie by India's most cherished hill-town writer; perennially in demand |
| 1946 Royal Indian Navy Mutiny | Pramod Kapoor | History | Documents one of India's lesser-known pre-Independence events; praised for its thorough research and vivid visual documentation |
When Should You Choose Roli Books?
- You are looking for premium illustrated or coffee table books on Indian art, culture, history, cuisine, or architecture — Roli Books is the definitive Indian source
- You want a high-quality gift book that combines visual beauty with scholarly depth — Roli titles are among India's most gifted books
- You are interested in serious non-fiction on Indian political history, current affairs, or biography through the Lotus Collection imprint
- You want quality literary fiction from independent Indian voices through the India Ink imprint
- You are a collector of limited-edition or fine-press books — Roli regularly produces numbered, collector's editions on significant Indian subjects
Roli Books titles — particularly their illustrated heritage books and cookbooks — hold exceptional resale value due to their production quality, visual richness, and sustained demand among collectors, gifters, and serious readers of Indian culture.
Roli Books vs Other Indian Publishers
| Publisher | Core Focus | Best For | Key Difference from Roli Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roli Books | Art, illustrated & heritage books on India | Readers and collectors seeking visually premium books on Indian culture, history & cuisine | — |
| HarperCollins India | Award-winning literary & diverse publishing | Readers wanting critically acclaimed literary fiction and political non-fiction | Broader genre range; less specialist in visual/illustrated books |
| Penguin Random House India | Largest catalogue, global literature | Readers wanting the widest range of fiction and non-fiction titles | Mass-market scale vs Roli's specialist, curated illustrated catalogue |
| Niyogi Books | Art, heritage & illustrated books | Readers seeking India-focused illustrated and art titles | Closest competitor in illustrated books; Roli has larger international reach and CMYK retail chain |
| Aleph Book Company | Serious Indian literary & scholarly writing | Readers of academic and literary Indian thought | Text-focused and literary; Roli's identity is built on design and visual quality |
| Speaking Tiger | Independent literary fiction & non-fiction | Readers who want independent, editorially adventurous Indian writing | Text-driven literary focus vs Roli's visual, design-led publishing identity |
💡 How Does Roli Books Stand Out?
- The only Indian publisher to own its own chain of specialist art bookstores (CMYK) — making it also a retail presence, not just a publisher
- Founder Pramod Kapoor is the only Indian publisher to have received France's Légion d'Honneur for contributions to publishing and Indian cultural heritage
- Internationally distributed via ACC Art Books in the UK and US — giving Roli titles a global reach that few Indian independent publishers achieve
Reader Perception of Roli Books
Seen as India's most trusted publisher of art and illustrated books — a standard of visual quality no other Indian house matches
The go-to choice for premium gifting — a Roli book signals taste, care, and cultural seriousness
A publisher that carries India's visual identity to the world — present in leading bookshops across Europe and North America
A Roli Books spine — particularly on an illustrated or coffee table title — signals a book of exceptional production quality. Readers and collectors know these books are built to last and to display.
About Roli Books (Overview)
Roli Books was founded in New Delhi in 1978 by Pramod Kapoor — a publisher and author born in Kolkata, educated at Banaras Hindu University. Its earliest publications were colour children's books and textbooks — the first of their kind to be produced in full colour in India — in partnership with a Singapore-based printer. This was followed by a move into art and photography books, establishing the design-led identity that defines Roli to this day.
In 1990, Roli set up a European subsidiary, Roli and Janssen, in the Netherlands to serve international markets. In 1992, the Lotus Collection imprint was launched for non-illustrated non-fiction — bringing serious political journalists, historians, and public figures into Roli's catalogue. In 2004, Roli acquired India Ink, a boutique literary fiction imprint, and in 2009, Roli Junior was added for children's books.
The company also launched the CMYK retail concept in 2009 — a chain of specialist bookstores dedicated to art, design, and illustrated books, with outlets across India including the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai. CMYK also serves as the exclusive South Asia distributor for global illustrated-book giants including Thames & Hudson, Phaidon, Abrams, V&A, MoMA, and Steidl.
Today the company is run by the Kapoor family: Managing Director Kapil Kapoor and Editorial Director Priya Kapoor, alongside founder Pramod Kapoor. In 2016, Pramod Kapoor was awarded the Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur — France's highest civilian honour — for his decades of contribution to promoting Indian heritage through books.
Key Facts About Roli Books
Why Are Roli Books Titles Popular in the Book Market?
- Illustrated titles and coffee table books are among the most gifted categories in India — and Roli is the first name buyers turn to
- Their cookbook titles — especially on Indian cuisine — are perennially sought by readers, collectors, and culinary professionals alike
- Books by Khushwant Singh, Ruskin Bond, and Raghu Rai published under Roli imprints remain in demand long after initial publication
- Their serious non-fiction titles through Lotus — on politics, governance, and history — are used as references and are frequently sought by students and researchers
- Limited-edition and collector's titles hold strong resale value due to their scarcity, production quality, and continued cultural relevance
Genres Covered by Roli Books
Explore Books by Roli Books
Available Books
Browse all Roli Books titles
Used Copies
Best-value editions
Art & Illustrated
Coffee table & heritage books
Related Publishers Like Roli Books
Explore other publishers with a similar focus on Indian culture and quality publishing:
For Publishers & Booksellers
Is Your Publishing House Not Listed Here?
BookMandee is a growing marketplace for used books across India. We feature publishers whose books are actively circulated, bought, and resold by our community of readers.
If your publishing house, imprint, or independent press is not listed here yet, we'd love to have you on the platform. Getting listed helps readers discover your catalogue, connects your titles to an active resale community, and builds long-term visibility for your books in India's used-book ecosystem.
If your publishing house, imprint, or independent press is not listed here yet, we'd love to have you on the platform. Getting listed helps readers discover your catalogue, connects your titles to an active resale community, and builds long-term visibility for your books in India's used-book ecosystem.
✓ Free to get listed
✓ Reach active book buyers across India
✓ Your catalogue visible to used-book seekers
✓ Build long-term discoverability
Get Your Publishing House Listed →
Takes less than a few minutes · No commitment required
FAQs About Roli Books
Roli Books is India's leading publisher of art, photography, and illustrated books — particularly premium coffee table books on Indian heritage, culture, cuisine, architecture, and history. Founded in 1978, it pioneered full-colour book production in India and has built a catalogue of over 1,200 titles across four imprints. It is also the only Indian publisher to own its own chain of bookstores, CMYK, with locations across India including the Taj Mahal Hotel, Mumbai.
Roli Books was founded in 1978 by Pramod Kapoor in New Delhi. Kapoor began by publishing India's first full-colour children's books and textbooks before moving into illustrated art and heritage books. In 2016, he was awarded the Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur — France's highest civilian honour — for his contributions to promoting Indian heritage through books.
Roli Books publishes under four imprints: Lustre Press (illustrated and art books), Lotus Collection (non-illustrated non-fiction, biographies, and current affairs), India Ink (literary fiction, acquired in 2004), and Roli Junior (children's books, launched in 2009).
CMYK is Roli Books' own chain of specialist bookstores dedicated to art, design, photography, and illustrated books. Launched in New Delhi in 2009, it now operates at six-plus locations across India — including a store called Nalanda by CMYK inside the iconic Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai. CMYK stocks 20,000+ titles and is also the exclusive South Asia distributor for publishers like Thames & Hudson, Phaidon, Abrams, V&A, MoMA, and Steidl.
Yes. Roli Books is a fully independent, family-run publishing house. It is not a subsidiary of any global publishing conglomerate. The company is currently run by Managing Director Kapil Kapoor and Editorial Director Priya Kapoor, alongside founder Pramod Kapoor. This independence has allowed Roli to remain focused on its specialist identity in art and illustrated books rather than expanding into mass-market publishing.
Yes, though availability varies by title. Illustrated and coffee table books from Roli — particularly titles by Khushwant Singh, Ruskin Bond, and Raghu Rai, as well as their cookbooks and heritage editions — are actively sought in India's used-book ecosystem. Due to their production quality and collectability, these titles tend to hold strong resale value compared to standard text-only books.
The information provided on this page is for general informational and educational purposes only. BookMandee does not claim ownership of any original content, book titles, covers, or associated intellectual property related to authors, books, or publishers mentioned.
All trademarks, book titles, author names, publisher names, and related content are the property of their respective owners and are used strictly for identification and informational purposes.
BookMandee operates as a marketplace where users list books for resale. Availability, pricing, and condition of listed books may vary and are determined by individual users on the platform.
If you are a rights holder and have any concerns regarding the content on this page, please contact us for resolution or email us at official.bookmandee@gmail.com.