“My memories mean a lot to me, and I hold them close to my heart.”
“Professionalism and punctuality are extremely important, especially in the career path I’ve chosen. Being on sets, film schedules can be very stringent and tight. They are sometimes at odd hours in various locations. Being there when you’re called just ensures that the day starts smoothly.”
“Wear what feels nice to you, not to impress.”
“It is extremely important for one to face their fears and live a bold life.”
“Gender discrimination is not the only form of discrimination one has to deal with.”
“I do believe that laughter is the best medicine – it cures everything.”
“Sometimes you really make bad mistakes, and you want to go back and just erase them.”
“A face is beautiful when you can relate to it or when you can see the emotion through the face.”
“It is very important to transform every disadvantage into an advantage.”
“Even if you are born with a silver spoon, you have to work hard. I mean, you could be offered films on a platter, but if you don’t get up in the morning and learn your lines, it is not going to work.”
“I love to travel and go to dance classes whenever I get time.”
“A brand should live up to the expectations of people; it should deliver what it promises.”
“I don’t know why, but I can’t get myself to like animal prints.”
“I find it very important to keep learning because, as an actor, you get exhausted. You need more emotion, more experience… you need something to base everything on.”
“It is difficult to constantly make courageous choices.”
“As we know, menstrual hygiene is an issue women have been facing over the years. It’s great that the initiative to provide low-cost sanitary napkins has been undertaken. It is an empowering step for many women.”
“When in doubt, always wear black.”
“We have so many male superstars, but there are just a few female actors who have attained that status. It is not only because of the industry; it’s in the society.”
“In a field like acting, there is pressure of all kinds, and it becomes tricky to navigate this space. There isn’t a particular path laid out to get what you want; you have to figure out ways to get there on your own. And yet, there is no guarantee of getting what you want. At times, you don’t know whom to listen to or whose advice to follow.”
“If you go to Canada or Los Angeles, you will get to see many South Asians there, but on screens, they are so less in number. It is abnormal not to have much South Asians on screens.”
“The menstruation taboo is ancient, and there are so many theories about it. For some, it is fear of blood, and for some, period blood is toxic. If you read the theories about menstruation, you might even laugh.”
“I am a very hyper person and always get pre-occupied with something.”
“I don’t think that independent or off-beat films are not commercial, nor do I want to categorise them. At the end of the day, what matters is how much you compromise to please the masses. But, I am not someone who loves compromising. If there’s a lot to give up on things that matter to me, I start losing interest.”
“I don’t follow norms in my life. They don’t make sense to me. I do whatever I feel or what makes me happy and feels right.”
“I feel that discrimination and hierarchy is something that people have to face constantly.”
“Look after all those lovely peculiarities in your face, your body, and yourself.”
“I’m friends with all my contemporaries.”
“I think if a Swiss watch can come to the country and have their own corporate stores, a Pakistani actor should come here and do a film here in India.”
“If you are an industry kid, the first film is given to you on a platter. However, the pressure and expectations are immense.”
“There is no set way of getting a role – you don’t give an exam, score well, and then nail a film.”
“Though I have achieved a little bit in my career, I have to continue working hard.”
“The image of an actor plays a huge role in deciding if he or she can experiment with roles.”
“It’s not just about looking shocked if the scene demands it. It’s about feeling that emotion. You can’t lie to the camera, because it captures everything. This is what I have learnt over the years.”
“If the actor believes in the moment, the audience believes in it, too.”
“On certain days, it can get difficult, because acting is about being naked emotionally. There are days when you are feeling empty, but the scene demands you to go through a cathartic experience. That’s why I like to know what my schedule for a particular film is beforehand.”
“All I can say is that, as an industry, we are trying to come together and find a way of constructively making a system where we all have a safe environment, and it’s going on. I am part of that, and I hope that we come up with a constructive system which is equal and genderless for every human being.”
“People who exploit their power and abuse others need to be revealed.”
“You need to learn to say no and need to recognise when you’re being exploited.”
“I would like to be part of sensible cinema, irrespective of whether it is a commercial or niche film, but it doesn’t always pan out like that.”
“Whether something is sensible or not is subjective. What is sensible to me might not be for others.”
“I want our generation to break stereotypes, and I want Indians who are making their foray in Hollywood to get all kinds of roles.”
“Industry is not only driven by talent; it depends upon so many factors. If you need to be successful in this field, one should know how to convert everything into a plus point. If you have a dusky face, make that your plus point.”
“I think you can’t get anywhere without hard work.”
“Certain people get an opportunity because they happen to be in the right place at the right time. It has no bearing on their talent. I don’t think we should look at it and feel bitter about it. That’s the way the cookie crumbles in all professions.”
“Yes, I will sign a film for the money. Because sometimes you don’t have the money to eat, and you have to get work and maintain a lifestyle. Not just actors – I think everybody does that. No job on this planet is about 100 per cent satisfaction. You do some part of the job for money.”
“I will do a big-budget film. I will do an indie film. I will do a short film. I will do a digital platform show, television, and even theatre. I don’t have any restrictions in terms of platform as long as the content is something that I find interesting.”
“Why are we only talking about gender discrimination. We need to focus on the other kinds of discriminations in practice.”
“I don’t do much for skin. Just drink water, try to get proper sleep, exercise, sweat it out, keep it moisturised, and most importantly, clean. That’s basically what I do.”
“I like the sartorial taste of Kangana Ranaut and the effortless style of Ranveer Singh.”
“Mentioning the word ‘menstruation’ has always been a taboo in India. People always shy away from talking about menstruation hygiene, and the awareness about the topic is very dismal.”
“I’m an actor, and my main purpose is to bring out interesting stories to life. If it involves a cause that I can be a part of, I most definitely will.”
“I want to be a part of stories.”
“I did ‘Padman’ not only because of its social message. I did it because it was a good story.”
“I run after good stories. If I did not like the story of ‘Padman,’ and if it was imparting the same message, I probably would not have done it.”
“I want to challenge myself with each project.”
“I have never celebrated Valentine’s Day in my life.”
“The thing is, if one person recognises you and takes a picture, then four other people who don’t even know you want to do the same.”
“I’m game for any kind of roles as long as I find it interesting.”
“’Vetri Selvan’ is the first film where I play a conventional romantic role, which I found very challenging.”
“Playing characters I don’t relate to are a big challenge for me.”
“I am not very ambitious by nature, and movies happened to me by chance.”
“While I am open to good offers when they come by, I have found my calling in theatre.”
“I usually take up short films when I am not tied up with feature films. Short films are easier to work on… because it doesn’t take much of your time. The number of shoot days are lesser as compared to feature films.”
“I love to cook and read books.”
“Every night, I watch films.”
“I think jokes on colour or body shaming shouldn’t be made. It’s not funny to crack such jokes.”
“I feel art has the power to bind us.”
“I do get a lot of offers for endorsing a brand, but for me, the credibility of the brand matters the most.”
“There are hierarchies in B-Town regarding many things, not just gender. Men also go through a lot in this industry.”
“I don’t like people recognizing me all around the world. I really don’t like that, as it’s breach of my privacy.”
“I can’t have double standards, so I do what I believe in.”
“You get negative comments even if you are not talking. So you can’t be scared of negative comments from people.”
“I did not come to Mumbai because I wanted to be a star. I came to Mumbai because I genuinely love acting, and it gives me a kick.”
“Bollywood is a business more than an art industry. One has to play the game others play to carve your own path.”
“A lot goes in my mind while choosing a role. Choosing unconventional roles is not a conscious decision. I choose the most exciting and challenging role from the options I have.”
“I’ve always been interested in dance and want to be a trained contemporary dancer.”
“For an actor, it is necessary to vegetate and look for inspiration. I get that from travelling, meeting people, and observing things around me. I bring back my energy by gaining different experiences.”
“The conventional idea of beauty is so boring.”
“I find all my friends very beautiful.”
“There is a pressure on actresses to look in a certain way. Like, when I have to go out for promotion or interviews, I have to choose designer wear.”
“When you are a freelancer, you are always looking for a next job. There is always struggle.”
“I like to perform. I hope I keep on getting good offers.”
“I have been brought up watching world cinema, and I have travelled a lot, so I am very comfortable with my body.”
“I don’t see why I should be ashamed of my body. That’s the one tool I use as a performer.”
“I had no apprehensions doing bold scenes.”
“I never get a role if I audition for it.”
“If I take up something, then it’s only because I love it so. It makes no sense to leave it just because I got a better offer.”
“Both my parents are doctors, but I’m passionate about dance and have always wanted to act since I was a child.”
“I think success has a different definition for everyone.”
“I am on social media to connect with my fans, but when I’m out on the streets, I don’t even wear make-up. I’m in my chappals, on my own, and I like that.”
“When I was really young, I was obsessed with Bollywood. Then I got exposed to world cinema, and I wanted to be a part of it. Then I was exposed to theatre, and I only wanted to do theatre.”
“I did quite a lot of research for ‘Phobia’ because it’s a very sensitive topic, so I couldn’t have just faked it.”
“I don’t mind doing genre roles as long as they offer me something substantial.”
“Initially, I did South Indian films because I needed the money; I had a huge student loan that I had to pay off. But I do feel that Marathi, English, and Hindi are what I’m more comfortable with.”
“I don’t want to be a top Bollywood actress. That’s not what is driving me.”
“I am an actor. What I am on screen is what matters.”
“I understand that when you become a public figure, people pay more attention to you, but my personal life is my space.”
“I do films because there is an audience out there. It doesn’t matter if they’re Indian, American, or European.”
“Anything that generates better films, more work, and better content is good.”
“I do social media largely for work because I want to be a part of different activities. In India, that’s how you make money, so I do it as my job.”
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