A painter once told me that I’m like the Khajuraho, which you see once but which remains with you forever. I thought that was exquisite.

It gives a different kind of high when, as an actor, I get to submit myself to the character I play.

Only conviction sells. Well, when we are insecure, we really don’t have that 100 percent conviction. Once we have it, we can tide over everything.

Sexuality, desirability has nothing to do with body type. It has to do with how you feel from within. I was at my fattest best in ‘The Dirty Picture,’ and I was called the most...

I don’t think my competition is with the heroes. I don’t think I’m competing with anyone. I don’t mean to sound Zen, but genuinely, when I stopped competing with anything is when I started enjoying...

From Shakespeare to Robi Thakur, everyone has written stories about people and incidents around them. There is no creativity minus reality irrespective of how flowery or abstract you make it.

Thumbs up to the buxom woman. Size zero is boring!

Marriage is something I’d recommend everyone to try, if you find the right person, of course.

The stakes are high on every film now because there’s the opening weekend. The first week is extremely crucial; increasingly, films are being judged in terms of opening day, opening weekend, then first week. People...

I dress according to the requirement of the film, as a true actor. Off the camera, I’m just me. I have my preferences and my personal style. Before I step out, I look into the...

I always wanted to live the lives of different people, portray characters that are different from me. But I could have done that in front of a mirror, also, I didn’t need to do films...

Black coffee is the latest fad I have picked up. Then there are my endless cups of chai! I’m trying to cut down and keep it to no more than three cups a day.

Fortunately, I’ve never been very conscious and inhibited of what I have to do. The camera’s my soul mate.

I enjoy the sari. I think it’s the sexiest garment ever. It shows you the right amount, it covers the right amount, it’s extremely versatile, it suits every body type, it suits every face.

My idea of an actor is to be different persons with different roles. Every time a script interests me, I look for interesting characters because I intend to completely transport myself into it. This happens...

I started feeling secure in every way once I began to accept myself the way I was. Whether that was emotional, financial or professional security, all of it came and embraced me because I embraced...

I don’t bother about how people feel about me. What matters to me is how I feel about them.

I have never thought of winning an Oscar. Rather, I never thought I would get the Padma Shri. I think God has been kind to me. I think getting Oscar award is not too far...

Being traditional is a choice for me. South Indian families bring up their children with a sense of freedom, self-respect and self-value. We do whatever we have to with earnestness and honesty, including being uninhibited....

Life has been kind to me. I am happy with the love and appreciation that I have been getting throughout my career. I feel blessed.

Women need to learn to value themselves. But that has to be inculcated in men as much as women.

I take one day at a time. I am not someone to define my goals.

I like all things natural, and I love being Indian. So clothes-wise, I love wearing Indian. Does my wearing a salwar kameez instead of a dress make me less of an actor, less of a...

Cinema is about people, and we are a very emotional people. That is why you see those ups and those downs and those colours. That is what Indian cinema is about.

I am vegetarian. I have a sweet tooth, so I try and avoid desserts. I binge maybe once a month. I eat every two hours, whether it is a Marie biscuit or just a slice...

I can’t cook to save my life.

As women, we are constantly criticising and judging ourselves in terms of our body, how we dress, what profession we take up, how we fare in that. Indian women are gifted with certain body types...

I remember someone telling me that when he saw the back of a woman’s head, he knew that was the woman he was going marry. I laughed that away as silly talk. But I guess...

Frankly speaking, it’s only the script that matters to me the most. If I like the script, then I just commit to myself and go ahead with it. But I also look at the commitment...

All over the world, people are looking at India and saying ‘wow’, and that’s because we have begun to say ‘wow’ ourselves.

I eat to live and not the other way around. As a vegetarian, I’m not at all fussy about food and can make do with anything.

I could live in a sari; I was born to wear a sari.

Let’s face it; people are doing everything online these days. So if they are going to watch my movies, I’m happy as long as it’s being bought legally and being exhibited legally, as long as...

I work out at home. I don’t have a gym, but I use light weights. I do calisthenics, which is basically using your own body weight, like you do in yoga, to strengthen your core....

Weight used to be an issue. I was always fat as a child. And everyone used to tell me, ‘You’ve got such a pretty face; why don’t you lose some weight?’ Over the years I’ve...

I think the beautiful thing about the past is that it leads you to the present.

I think a woman should be wholesome, voluptuous and sizzling!

My father said that I could always become an actress, but I couldn’t go back to college later in life. So I had to first finish my education, and then I could do what I...

I’ve wanted recognition; I wanted success; I wanted appreciation; I love the perks of being in the movies. I love the fame that comes with it – but that’s why I became an actor.

To each his own, but I just think that we women have a certain body type. As Indian women, we have a beautiful body type. And I believe in the celebration of curves. Whether it’s...

Women are blessed with energy – a power which is unique. I have been very fortunate to have played strong women and explored their strengths through my films.

I was a happy person before marriage. I’m definitely happier after marriage.

Promotions can be seen in two ways – either you hate them, and they’re a burden, and you are getting through with it, or you can enjoy them. I decided early on that I was...

It’s never been difficult for me to say no. I have never given excuses like I don’t have dates. I have never overd to avoid a project. I simply say that while the script might...

I eat every two hours. I sleep for eight hours. I have lots of water. I pray to keep calm. Most importantly, I have a smile on my face.

I’m someone who believes in ‘live and let live,’ and that applies to everything.

I’m not fashionable, and I know nothing about fashion, but I have my individual style, and style is eternal.

There will always be a slight difference between the reel and the real. Even my family might know 99 per cent about me, but there will be this one per cent about me that nobody...

My so-called bad dress-sense phase happened when I was confused – I think I was taking advice all too often, without listening to my inner voice. Add to the fact that I was a little...