“Before the film begins shooting, in your head, you need to be the character. You have to convince yourself somehow.”

Every character that I’ve chosen has made me evolve as an actor. And I am lucky that my directors have shown so much faith in my abilities.

Whatever dream you have, be sure that it is going to be happen, and then forget about it. Then you have to come back to the present and be there 100 percent.

If you are confident about yourself and wear what you love, you will exude a style of your own.

I was the youngest child and the only son. I was expected to shine in academics. It seemed like too big a risk to take up cricket as a career. I thought I had to live up to my family’s expectations. So I chose to be an engineer.

I pray to God every day that he makes me the biggest superstar, but before that, I ask God to make me a good actor. Being a star is hard, but being an actor is even harder. I want to be both before I am done.

Instead of sounding pretentious, phony, or repetitive, I’d rather not speak.

I have been blessed with strong leg muscles, and dancing really exercises one’s legs.

You can’t make two films at the same time.

I have four elder sisters, and being the youngest, I was pampered.

Theatre is a must for actors. They should try it at least once. It makes you disciplined, teaches you to respect your work, and boosts your confidence as an actor.

Everything that is somehow related to direction and filmmaking fascinates me, like cinematography.

The more I learn about things, I realise how wrong I was before.

My favourite actor is Daniel Day Lewis. He’s the finest actor in Hollywood. I’ve studied his performances.

If you are seeing something for the first time, one of your first reactions should be fascination.

My exercise regime is a mix of gymming, marital arts, sports, etc.

Cricketers have to perform in front of millions, and there are no retakes. If then you become a hero, you deserve all the accolades coming your way.

Love has three kinds of origin, namely: suffering, friendship and love. A human love has a corporal and intellectual origin.

When a mean wretch cannot vie with another in virtue, out of his wickedness he begins to slander. The abject envious wretch will slander the virtuous man when absent, but when brought face to face his loquacious tongue becomes dumb.

There must be a remedy even for such a crying evil as this [abortion]. But where shall it be found, at least where begin, if not in the complete enfranchisement and elevation of women?

When you’re lecturing teenagers and they begin to hum and leave the room, you can sense there is hostility.

Humility is the beginning of true intelligence.

The best time for a new beginning is anytime you want it to be.

If you did not write every day, the poisons would accumulate and you would begin to die, or act crazy or both-you must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you.

The best scientist is open to experience and begins with romance – the idea that anything is possible.