“When I did my first film, I did not understand or speak Telugu.”

I was clear about the fact that my first film should be ‘big,’ since it’s the start of your whole career graph.

Women simply need to know the right technique of shaving to get the best results.

The more successful you become, the more known you become, everything you say is minutely scrutinised a lot.

My career is too short for there to be any turns! But I would say that not everyone is noticed and accepted in their debut films. I was accepted both by the industry and the audience.

When you don’t come from a film background, getting the right debut is important and difficult, as you don’t have the sensibility to know what will work and what won’t.

It’s better to focus on one film rather than take up two or three films at the same time.

It’s sad to be constantly judged for every move you make after your first success. If you wear your hair differently, you have changed.

I had learnt Kathak for six years from the age of eight and did a foundation course from Kathak Kendra in Delhi. I was not fond of classical dance, but today, I’m glad my mom made me do it.

I think every industry is a male-dominated industry. Whether it is Tollywood or Bollywood or India as a whole, it is male-dominated. We stay in India, and it has been patriarchal society.

There was a lot of pressure on me when I signed ‘Dilwale,’ and though it did not do as well in India, overseas the business was crazy despite competition from another film.

I try and see a silver lining in everything, A ray of light in the dark, good in the bad.

I can’t stand on the roadside and have Pani Puri like before. But, at the same time, being an actor makes you feel special. People look up to you, want to know more about you, and shower you with so much love without even knowing you personally. It’s overwhelming.

After graduating, I began auditioning for films while continuing to model. I did a few fashion shows, ad shoots, and even got a few Bollywood offers, but nothing great.

You’ve been running so fast, through endless wants that slowing down seems tough.

Happiness is a pretty simple word, you just need to know where to derive it from.

In the mornings, I use a good moisturiser and a colouring lip balm. In the evenings, though, I like to go a little glam.

I want my films to make money first. Awards and all can come later.

For a film maker, an Oscar is like a Nobel Prize, you know. So I am very happy… delighted. There is nothing more after this. I cannot hope to get anything more prestigious.

Particularly in the final stages I always find that I’m rushed. It’s dangerous when you’re rushed in the editing stage, most of my early films are flawed in the cutting.

As an actor, you create a character from your understanding of what you have heard and your observations. Eventually, every film is an extension of the images that I have seen or what I have heard or read somewhere.

What is attempted in these film is of course a synthesis. But it can be seen by someone who has his feet in both cultures. Someone who will bring to bear on the films involvement and detachment in equal measure.

Both film and fashion are businesses where the audience doesn’t feel or see the work that goes on behind the scenes.

The director is the only person who knows what the film is about.

Most of the top actors and actresses may be working in ten or twelve films at the same time, so they will give one director two hours and maybe shoot in Bombay in the morning and Madras in the evening. It happens.