Actress

The digital space is becoming more relevant, and people are watching a lot of stuff on the web.

I probably marketed myself all wrong. I had exotic looks; I should have done those glamorous roles that exuded 'oomph.' But in my head, I was always an actress first.

I was really a very ambitious young girl when I started studying drama and performing art.

I do believe that actors have responsibilities.

I am very much of an Indian by heart.

I don't think one ever stops struggling.

I was a complete anomaly in this business. I didn't fit into the Hema Malini-Zeenat Aman commercial cinema mould, neither the Shabana Azmi-Smita Patil art cinema mould.

I had directed a short film called 'Girvhi' earlier, on child labour. It was a fictional story. At that time, I realised I could direct a film if given a chance.

In 'Yours Truly,' I was the centre of the story; I was the protagonist. There was a lot more happening inside the mind of the character which was not projected loudly through dialogue and action... As a performer, playing such a nuanced, internal character is challenging.

I never needed anyone when I became an actress. I ran off to England on my own.

I don't like to talk about things till someone asks about them.

I am one of those people who cannot sit idle at home; I would get depressed. I have a constant hunger to create and to learn.

I have always been known as Mahesh Bhatt's wife, and I would tell people, 'Hello! I'm here!' This has always been a struggle. I would like to be known for who I am. I'm very happy to be known as his wife or Alia's mother. But I am also a person who, in her own right, has gone through quite a lot of odds.

Struggle is always very demoralising. It's not a romantic phase in anybody's life. It's very difficult. What it does is, it brings out your creativity in different way.

There will always be people who will first wait for somebody's comment and then attack them. I'll say they are just cowards. They have no opinions of their own. It's very easy to be a sheep; it's not easy to be a shepherd. One should not give a damn about these trolls. One should not give them importance at all.

A filmmaker is in a very vulnerable position when their films are releasing.

It makes the city unique and hold a charm. In old Kolkata, there are some beautiful old buildings... some of them are well-maintained; somewhere reflects what the city has gone through in the past.

As her mother, I am always there, but Alia knows what she wants both professionally and personally.

You cannot control the spending habits of people. It is a free society, after all, and people should have right to spend their money as they wish.

I don't know what kept us together. Initially, both of us were hotheaded, so we would end up fighting a lot. But there was a lot of love and respect, too, I guess. I believe that's the key to a successful marriage.