I know I should have never got into politics. And I've learned my lesson. No more politics.
If the modes are changing, one goes along with it, I guess.
I don't agree that I have a lot of confidence.
Life is a blur when one is essaying different roles; it is so fulfilling.
Obviously, you look for something that is commensurate with your age. You know that you can't be playing the young hero anymore, and you have to be relegated to something smaller and something elderly, and you just try and do your best.
Basically I am just another actor who loves his work and this thing about age only exists in the media.
Audiences change because life changes. Countries change geographically, climatically, socially and morally. Many things happen, and cinema, in a sense, reflects what's happening in the world.
I'm very fortunate to have spent so much time in the industry and to have lived through several generations of filmmakers, actors and technicians. There's a huge volume of experience seeing people change and seeing content change.
I had two surgeries during the early part of 2012, and I was advised to restrict my work load.
Kaizad Gustad is quite crazy, and he has weird ideas, and 'Boom' is one such idea. It's a crazy film by a crazy guy. It's almost a satire, a black comedy.
I went into politics on an emotional level and soon realised that emotion has nothing to do with politics.
I'm very thankful to directors and filmmakers who consider me in their films, and I hope I'm able to do justice to their films.
I would rather be an aware citizen, and if an opportunity were to arise where I would have to make a statement, I would happily do that.
I guess I've been extremely keen on theatre, on getting on to the stage, taking on different roles, enacting vocations, personalities, people, situations, and I guess that's the interest that has driven me to work in movies.
I would rather talk to a face than a camera.
What I do on film is part of my profession.
My father is a poet. He's a literary giant of this country - writes in Hindi - and also quite unique because he has a Ph.D. in English Literature. He taught at Harvard University, which is one of the most prominent universities in the country.
I don't know how others think about me, but if I have to walk the streets, I will, and if I need to stand in a queue at the airport, that's OK.
My mother came from a very affluent background, very Westernized, while my father was more Eastern. So I've had a very good blend of the East and the West. I guess this has been extremely helpful in making my career and the way I function.
I would like to believe that I still am a shy person; I am very introverted. I have a problem communicating.
I did not resign from politics because of Bofors. I resigned because I do not know how to play petty politics. I did not know back then and I don't know now either.
It's frightening to be facing an audience. There is always the fear of what they think of you, what they are saying about you.
Personally, when a controversy erupts, we decide first whether it requires clarification and, secondly, if it receives notice from authorities and the establishment, we submit responses to their queries.
I should only look back at moments that were disparaging, look down upon, negative for me - moments where I could learn something. And if I have been able to use that learning in future, then I am happy about it.
As a creative agency, the film industry is thinking great subjects, presenting them wonderfully well, and giving opportunity to new faces each day.
Whatever I do becomes controversial.