When Rakesh Roshan called me for ‘Khoon Bhari Maang,’ it was supposed to be a six month shoot, but I ended up staying for four years doing 12 films.

Vamps no longer exist. Stars have taken their roles.

There’s nothing called a perfect pick-up line. Men always have to face the risk of rejection.

The life of an actor is very hard irrespective of the continent you are in. It is doubly hard when you are only eligible for minority roles.

My parents were no ordinary people. My mother turned Gandhian, and my father was a staunch communist. They named me after the great saint as a symbol of communal harmony.

I’ve dubbed for my roles in Hindi, English, and Italian. Therefore, I’m used to the process. But, dubbing is hard, especially when you are dubbing for a prominent actor.

I don’t believe in murder.

Honestly, I’m willing to experiment with far more variety in roles than I’m given. But ultimately, it’s the producer’s decision. But, I’ve done a variety of roles – the evil don, the evil husband… I’ve done villainous roles, supporting roles, etc.

Acting was merely a pastime; I wanted to make films. But theatre, ah – now that was a labour of love. Can there be anything better than performing without retakes and cuts, in front of people you can see, hearing them breathe in the darkness of the hall?

Acting is the most insecure profession in the world – you’re insecure if you’re successful, you’re insecure if you’re not. A tightrope walk without a net. It’s a miracle I’m still standing!

I adore ‘The Chipmunks.’

The advantage my looks gave me was that I wasn’t limited to just playing Indian roles when I was abroad, and I’ve been abroad for almost twenty-five years.

Today, of course, the world’s perception of India has changed tremendously. People understand its role in world affairs; they understand that India is not some backward nation. In fact, it is the fastest growing free-market democracy in the world today, and that says it all.

It is time that India legally respected the rights of LGBT persons. It is very sad that this is not enshrined in Indian law in India so far, but I do believe that soon, we will come on par with respecting the individuality of people with different sexualities.

Osho is one of India’s greatest mystics…. I see him as one of the world’s great teachers, thinkers, philosophers and guides of our times. I have enormous respect for his world vision and the kind of International Communities he is building. I have always felt his influence in my life.

I can’t play Mahatma Gandhi.

Being an international actor, I always had to keep moving.

I could play Arab roles, even German roles, Italian roles because I had that look.

I think worldwide, the movement has been towards accepting and respecting the individuality and the rights of gay people, lesbians and transgender people. Here, however, age-old cultural mindsets – which also comes from Victorian times, affect the thinking of people.

I grew up speaking English and Punjabi. Just living and working in Punjab and smelling the early morning air and sitting down and having paranthas and lassi and all that was marvellous.

I think I’ve had an interesting life. I’ve done films, TV, theatre and got married. I don’t have any regrets.

There’s a big difference between how the Anglo-Saxon world views India, or viewed India, and the way Europe views India.

I have the greatest love for the rituals of organised religion – the sense of community and belonging it can confer to people. But me, I’m more a questioner than a follower; not by whim or fashion, but as a decision painfully arrived at after much, much thought.

I do believe that with more worldwide influences, the coming of the internet age and digital media, the flow of information is far greater, and people’s understanding can expand more easily.

Theatre is done largely for the love of the craft. Television makes you famous. And films immortalize you. That’s the relationship between the three.

You are probably right when you say that I could get a role in any producer’s film if I just asked.

Every relationship comes with a shelf life; that duration could be a minute or even a lifetime. If, for whatever reasons, a relationship cannot last a lifetime, contrary to what the two people imagined, then both the individuals have to be communicative and have to understand and accept the reality.

India can’t be looked at as a country; it’s more of a continent.

I’m an international actor, but at the same time, I’m also a Bollywood actor, even though most of my career has been abroad. However, I’ve always kept in touch with Hindi cinema.

Whether people choose to have same sex relationships or relationships outside the marriage – whatever happens between two consenting adults should be purely their business, not the state’s or the society’s.

We should realise that Hollywood is not obliged to write roles for Asian actors.

Not all roles you do can be chocolate sweet.

I have never been worried about the future. I will always be able to drive my own feet.

In the 30 years of my career, I have explored all possible mediums, except radio.

I have never pressurized a producer to do me any favor.

I think the Indian model of respecting the uniqueness of each religion and, of every state is what makes the country great.

Actors are limited by their appearance and while it has cost me some roles, it has got me some very important roles too.

When you are a filmmaker, you need to be rooted, because committing yourself to producing or directing a film is a good three-year process.

Different nations have different ways of forming their national identity.
In America, for instance, the model was one of homogeneity breaking from different backgrounds, and the whole effort was to blend them all together like a wonderful making of a milkshake!

I also said, men are like curling irons, they never get out of your hair.
And they are like government bonds, they take so long to mature.

I turned into a monk when my mother went to learn Buddhism in Burma. While she learnt at the monastery, I used to roam around with a begging bowl and ask for food.

I’m constantly complimented for my voice, even by random people at the airport!

I am going to produce a movie of my own. I am not going to stick to the time-tested formulae of Hindi cinema. I want to make a film for the present generation. So there will be a lot of new faces in the film.

Delhi is my emotional home. I still dream of owning a home there.

The average Englishman has no idea of the dynamism in the music scene here.

You see, I have many friends in the Hindi film industry.

Pakistan tries mentally challenged girl of blasphemy against the Holy Book. India arrests kids for posts on Facebook. Morbid competition?

I’m not the sort to wallow in nostalgia about the good old days.

Love just happens, you know.

Love is a beautiful feeling.

Men are like mascara, they run at the slightest display of emotion.

Everything has a place and time.

In a country like India, we don’t want to put everyone in one big mixture. We have a different language, culture and cuisine for each region, even though we are united in the larger context. We are more like a fruit salad, where each ingredient has its own specialty, each fruit its distinct flavor, and together, the salad makes a tasty dish, without losing the individuality of each constituent.

Everything has its advantages and disadvantages.

I love the stage, I love the process of acting in theatre, but unfortunately, it doesn’t pay the bills.