Actor

I don't believe in the separation between mankind and nature. Mankind is nature.

Strangely, or maybe not so strangely, a lot of the roles that I am offered are of Muslim characters, maybe because I looked a certain way in 'Neerja.' But I am actually Parsi.

I think that's the magic of any part - unravelling the mystery of what kind of person your guy is based on the words he says and the actions that he does.

I am not interested in one-sided characters.

There is serious Islamophobia in the world.

I heard that Sanjay Leela Bhansali has an eye for detail, and it shows in his work, but seeing it firsthand is a powerful experience.

I am interested in seeing 'Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota' by Vasan Bala, so I would like to work with him, and I also would like to work with Vikram Aditya Motwani, Abhishek Chaubey, Vishal Bhardwaj, and Kabir Khan.

In 'Raabta' I've two personalities to project, and yes, there are distinct shades of grey.

I'm really a nice guy!

I would love to work with anybody who has a good story to tell - Patrick Graham, Vikramaditya Motwane, Anurag Kashyap, Neeraj Ghaywan, Coen Brothers, Wes Anderson. I don't know why I was not considered for that Indian guy's part in 'The Grand Budapest Hotel.'

For me, India symbolises a big fire and a big river.

I did plays because I liked plays. I studied psychology because I was fascinated by the subject, and I hope to keep doing films because I love the medium.

In 'Padmaavat,' you are pushed to be as good as the frame, to have a presence that lives up to the grand, operatic, intricate, beautiful frame that you inhabit. I love trying to rise to that.

I do have carbon footprints because of travel, but apart from that, I am simple guy.

If you are being interviewed, just be polite, have fun.

'Flip' is an anthology of four short films, and I am in the one called 'Massage,' along with Sandeepa Dhar and Viraj Patel.

If the role is complicating and challenging enough for me to push me out of my comfort zone, then I get very excited.

If I see that everything the director does is motivated by trying to achieve the best, I can accept anything.

I really enjoyed working with Ranveer Singh.

It is important for an actor to play different roles.