Models from India

"Plus Point:"

"Minus Point:"

"As an Actress:"

"On School:"

"On First Encounters With Bollywood:"

"Things she find most attractive in a man:"

"Love, money, sex or power:"

"Competition"

"I lost my father when I was 13-years-old. He was a great man, my father, and very intelligent. I love him very much. I believe it's very important that parents have a personal connection with their children. It helps kids feel more secure, have a feeling of family, makes them feel loved."

"Whenever I came across something that influenced me, I wanted to be that. So it varied from an astronaut, airhostess, army girl, to truck driver. Once, I wanted to be a nun - my mother wanted me to change schools after that..."

"I am single and desperately looking for a good man in my life. I did have major crushes when I was younger but no serious relationship."

"I want to bring a change and do something new and different in my profession, but in the beginning I'll have to toe line, I want to be known as a performer not a star."

"I am proud to be part of today's Bollywood. I love dancing and lip synching to our songs."

"To act, you must know pain. You must know what it means to be in love, what it means to be rejected."

"You know what's the worst part about being an actress? It's the pressure to look gorgeous all the time and to behave perfectly. But I'm not perfect, nobody is."

"Acting can truly take a toll on your nerves. I mean we have to be larger than life. Worse, I've seen actors acting off the sets too."

"On the changing face of Indian cinema "At one time I wondered if I was doing the right films, today I know I have made the right choices. Indian cinema is changing, not step by step but by leaps. New blood is coming in, mindsets are changing and our exposure to the world is ever-increasing. I am glad these positive changes are happening when I am in the industry and not ten years from now."

"On love at first sight It is superficial to fall in love with someone looking at their face. To me I need to discover the person. I would never look at someone and exclaim - He is the one!"

"I don't see myself working in a Hollywood film."

"The Fastest way to make you dream come true is to wake up!"

"How do I pick a role? Well, primarily I think I would like to be part of a film that's progressive as well as entertaining, you know? Because in India we have a huge amount of audience that is not educated, and they really look up to films... So I think it's important to do a film... that's entertaining but has a message. And after that I'd like to do films that are different for me -- if I'm doing a love story then I want to do a war film, if I'm doing a war film then I want to do a story about an un-wed mother. I think variety is the spice of life."

"...my favourite [co-actor] is always the recent one I'm working with. But I think one of my personal favourites is Shah Rukh, he's one of the best actors I've worked with."

"Becoming an actress"

"First job in acting"

"I wear Whatever I feel comfortable in. I like to mix and match. I'll buy something from the street. I'll buy something from a fashion house."

"I had to attend this party instantly and I didn't have shoes. So I went and bought a pair of shoes worth 1,200 Euro. I look at those shoes and go 'This is the most expensive bite of my life'."

"On Shahrukh Khan:"

"On Rani Mukerji:"

"On Saif Ali Khan:"

"On Karan Johar:"

"On Hrithik Roshan:"

"On Salman Khan:"

"On Abhishek Bachchan:"

"On Bobby Deol:"

"On her co-stars generally:"

"On Amitabh Bachchan:"

"Rani Mukerji:"

"Abhishek Bachchan:"

"Brett Lee:"

"Jaya Bachchan:"

"Akshay Kumar"

"Hrithik Roshan"

"Manisha Koirala"

"Gracy Singh"

"Saif Ali Khan"

"Priyanka Chopra:"

"Celina Jaitley:"

"Tania Zaetta, Australian TV actress and co-star in Salaam Namaste"

"Upen Patel (model and actor)"

"Katrina Kaif"

"On Shankar Ehsaan Loy, Music directors of Kal Ho Naa Ho"

"On Shaad Ali, Director of Jhoom Barabar Jhoom"

"On Rituparno Ghosh, Director of The Last Lear"

"Farah Khan (Choreographer)"

"Tanuja Chandra (Director of Sangharsh)"

"Deepa Mehta (Director of Heaven on Earth)"

"On Jaan-E-Mann:"

"On Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna:"

"On Chori Chori Chupke Chupke:"

"On Jhoom Barabar Jhoom (2007) and Shaad Ali:"

"On Lakshya (2004)"

"On Veer-Zaara (2004)"

"On being invited to the Cannes Film Festival in 2006:"

"On shooting in New York:"

"What's hot needs to be served hot. What would people do looking at the butt show by John Abraham and Tusshar Kapoor? Had I been given an opportunity to show my butt it would definitely have been better than John and Tusshar."

"The moment I heard this song, I was spellbound as it transformed me into a different world! This song keeps growing on you, and I felt, the video concept was quite intriguing. I have always ventured into uncharted territories and believe in taking calculated risks in my career. Regarding this song, I was bowled over by the lyrics of Sameer Anjaan Ji."

"The song caught my fancy. The concept is unusual. I have always taken risks and done different things in my career."

"I went completely deglamourised. I was bowled over by the lyrics. The story narration in this video is very different. It’s more of hardcore acting. I am waiting for it to reach the listeners. I am sure people will enjoy it."

"Yes, I remember those days, it was just the beginning. That was the best thing I have done because it takes a lot of courage. People were creating controversy at the time but now it has changed. People understand the concepts and message behind it. It was too bold at that time."

"It wasn’t easy for the Indian audience to digest it. Ranveer is comfortable and hence he has done it. He is an artist at the end of the day, we should respect the way he is trying to portray his talent. It isn’t new in Hollywood but in Bollywood. Being such a big actor he has done it and people are taking it otherwise. He is talented, and gets publicity; He is definitely not someone who needs controversy."

"The difference was there before and it’s going to be there. We have a different mindset for a female and male actors. It’s not going anywhere easily, if a female does anything bold people will take it as a controversial thing. Women in India still have limitations. It’s difficult to cross the boundary."

"People are open-minded now, all thanks to exposure on social media. When I took the song people expected it to have a lot of skin show, but it has a different concept. People have come to me and said, ‘Are you trying to change your image?’ People were surprised to see that I have screentime."

"In the beginning, after I did the PETA and IPL (Indian Premier League) shoot, I used to get only item numbers or anything that included a lot of skin show. But I gave myself a break during the Covid. There was a period of time when I was sitting at home and doing nothing because I wanted to do something different. I think a lot of people have realised that this girl can do other things as well, apart from the bold shoot. This is the reason I got this music video. Rozlyn will be next seen in two projects-- a short film and a music video. “Roselyn is back, not for bikini shoots or doing bold things. I was a newbie and I have learned from my mistakes in the past. I am going to explore my genre."

"'Indian', [mom said], you will write Indian. And if they have a problem with that let them come and talk to me. They have no business asking you your religion. How is that the basis for an educational qualification?"

"The world isn’t just what you see outside your window. It’s so much larger, so much grander. We are just microscopic specks in the whole big scheme of things in this universe! How bogged down we get by rules, by what society wants and what people say, when in fact it’s all just timepass. Enjoy the moment, even the grief. Celebrate the joy of being alive. It’s so very very easy to be happy."

"This is my life. No one has the right to tell me how to live it or to question what I do. When you grow up, you will make your own choices. It will be your life and you it your way. I will never interfere. It must be awful for these people to have such boring lives that all they can do make them interesting is to talk about somebody else’s life. I am glad I provided with them with timepass conversation."

"Everybody wants to know about it. Even now. But look at what else I have accomplished since then which must have taken courage. Far more than what it took to streak. But because it's more immediate you think you could even do this. But you can't build a dance institute out of barren land."

"Every woman I knew secretly longed to have many lovers but she stopped herself for so many reasons. I had the capacity to love many at a time and for this had been called shallow and wayward and a good-time girl..."

"To my analytical mind this relationship of marriage was a very forced one between two people. I understood that for the security and upbringing of the child the parents need to be monogamous. Because then the child will have a secure home. But both people should understand and accept the fact that there would always be temptation. That's not bad in itself because what is temptation?"

"Human nature being what it is, or at least conditioning being what it is I was so insecure. I always had to watch out for other women. She leans forward and laughs "Because he was so damned good looking, you know. When you are not the wife it's great but when you are...""

"When I saw Odissi it could have been Kuchipudi or Thai for all I cared. No one knew Odissi then. I S Johar once introduced my performance saying 'Now for Protima Bedi's Udipi performance.' But when I saw it I knew that is what I wanted to do -- whatever it was. There was something so sensuously spiritual about it. I think I must have wanted that so much in my life."

"My guru said you are too old. I thought I was young -- I was 26. And he said you can't and I said I can. I'll show you. He said it will take many sacrifices. And I said I'll give up anything you want. I didn't realise I would have to give up my family for that. I realise now if I had not gone for three months to Orissa my husband would not have run off with Parveen Babi. So it was really a giving up. My children had to go to boarding school after that -- there was no family. I had to give up my lifestyle, my friends, my smoking, my drinking."

"Firstly I had never touched anyone's feet. So I refused to do that for months. I had never been inside a temple. I refused to go for puja every evening. I said I have only come to learn dance. I don't have to do all that. But the dance brought the devotion and the spiritual understanding. I saw my guru's devotion because everything he did was by example. If I have built Nrityagram today it is because of what I took from him."

"This great man, Guru Kelucharan Mahapatra, a Padmashri and Padma Bhushan, would clean the gutter outside his house. He used to beat me. One slap from my dad and I had left the house. And my guru slapped me a couple of times because I was arrogant. I would be so angry I would pack my bags. But I knew I was there because I wanted to be there not because he wanted me to be there. And when I touched his feet it was not by rote. When I touched his feet he and I both cried because he had waited long enough for me to come to that."

"I felt I had nothing more to learn. It was the same thing wrapped up in different packaging again and again. I am not a brilliant dancer at all. But my packaging is great. You know, I have been a hippie all my life. And the dreams of the sixties that I had of living in a commune, of sharing, of never having more than I can use, of living life joyfully in nature -- that was the spirit that was inside me. And in the isolation of being a dancer I thought where is the giving, where is the sharing, with me sitting so far in a cold place? I knew I had to get back and I had to share what life had given me through dance. I was willing to give up my dance and work and beg to realise this dream. Because it would still be my dream, it would still be dance but how much joy it would give so many bodies."

"I dream of building a community of dancers in a forsaken place amidst nature. A place where nothing exists, except dance. A place where you breathe, eat, sleep, dream, talk, imagine - dance. A place where all the five senses can be refined to perfection. A place where dancers drop negative qualities such as jealousy, small-mindedness, greed and malice to embrace their colleagues as sisters and support each other in their journey towards becoming dancers of merit. A place called Nrityagram."

"But as soon as I opened a dance school they went who does she think she is? She has become a guru! In their mind they could not accept that anyone could build a place not because they want to be a guru but because they want to give the best to a young bunch of girls. Guru Kelucharan Mahapatra was in charge of Odissi. Kalanidhi Narayan for Abhinaya. Kumudini Lakhia for Kathak. Kalyani Kuttiyamma for Mohiniattam. The Paul Taylor Dance Company did a workshop there. I was not the guru. I was the slave. I was working with my hands -- planting trees, digging the earth, typing, collecting the money. I gave up my dance."

"It all came back to my guruji saying bahut kali-ka rup dekhaya tumne. (You have shown a lot of Kali in you). Calm down a little bit. Parvati-ka roop lo. (Take on the image of [[w:Parvati|Parvati)."

"My creativity is over. Now it is only the question of maintenance. I have empowered the girls to look after themselves. To earn their own money, to be somebody. I need to resuscitate."

"Just be the best and the highest expression of who you want to become. Be that. Because if you are that there is no more unhappiness. All frustration and anger comes from being less. People say not everybody can be. But everyone can be. I trust life. The only person who stands in your way is yourself."

"The time has come for me to forget my past and live a future that even I am unaware of."

"I couldn’t describe Protima Bedi better. As a mother she was phenomenal. She brought joy into our lives with her constant need to be different and creative. She was determined never to lead an ordinary life."

"Two words that were missing in her life’s lexicon were "no" and "regret"; she could not say no to any man who desired her — and grew into a very desirable and highly animated young woman who most men found irresistible. And she did not regret any emotional or physical experience she had."

"She abandoned her dance school and other business to become a sanyasin, but death took her unawares: she was killed in a landslide while on a pilgrimage to Kailash-Mansarovar. Oddly enough even as a sanyasin she was accompanied by one of her lovers."

"Protima Gauri (as she renamed herself) had zest for living. She loved her men, her liquor and drugs. She had a large range of her lovers, most of whom she names."

"Now, the 48-year-old Odissi dancer -- clean-shaven, with tattooed eyebrows and clothed in the robes of a Buddhist monk (except the colour of the robe is blue and purple) -- wants to retreat to the Himalayas."

"Dance has been like a man in her life. It has given her name, fame and credibility. She can't do without it. She is a star in her own right. I'm sure she can revive herself and get back into the limelight."

"I'm a complete Marathi mulgi, My mom’s a Maharashtrian and my maternal grandparents stay close by. Thanks to that, right from my eating habits to my mannerisms, my upbringing has been completely Maharashtrian. I'm also fluent in Marathi."

"I am a die hard fan of dancing and would take my dad's clothes and my mom's clothes and dance in front of the mirror. I loved my dad's clothes as they had a lot of glitter in them. My whole family speaks in this sing song way and, for a short period of time, I would practice these air hostess speeches. While my dad was comfortable with me being an actor, the only thing he said no was to becoming an air hostess."

"I am a diehard romantic. My all time favorite romantic movie would be Guru Dutt’s Pyaasa. Waheeda Rehmanji’s role in the movie is something I would love to do in my career. My role in Aashiqui 2 had shades that came close to it. Also, Titanic and The Notebook are on my favourite films list. My idea of romance revolves around everything I’ve grown up watching in our Bollywood movies. Our romances are like fairy tales, something that every romantic freak, especially girls would love to experience."

"It’s hard no matter where you come from. You have your own struggles."

"From the time I was a child, I was told I would be an actor. Deep down I did know that too, but I was rebellious. I went to Jamnabai Narsee School, and then the American School, where my grades were really good. My parents weren't keen on me going abroad to study, but I was adamant, so I took off for Boston University. I started getting film offers on a summer break here, so I never returned. But I really enjoyed my psychology class."

"It’s an absolute delight for me to play a naagin on screen. I have grown up watching, admiring and idolising Sridevi ma’am’s Nagina and Nigahen and always wanted to play a similar role rooted in Indian traditional folklore. It’s like playing an iconic character, which has always been so fascinating for the audience."

"Being a brand ambassador for such a noble cause is a matter of pride for me. I get to preach what I practice."

"It was decided at the BJP National Council that Mahila Morcha wing of the party will protest against this anti-women policy of Congress-led UPA. Hence, on October 12, the anniversary of our leader Vijayaraje Scindia, Mahila Morcha will organise protests all over the country."

"In that kitty of mine where people call me anpadh (illiterate), I do have a degree from Yale University as well, which I can bring out and show how Yale celebrated my leadership capacities."

"What I do in my personal life doesn't come under responsibility of media. I appreciate your efforts to keep me in the headlines."

"In India, I don't think any woman here is dictated what to wear, how to wear, whom to meet, when to meet....I am of the opinion, I don't think anybody is dictated here, you are not told."

"If the BSP leader is not satisfied, I am ready to behead myself and lay my head at your feet."

"I read it because I was asked to explain what the truth is. I said it with a lot of pain. I myself am a practicing Hindu, I myself am a Durga worshiper. These are authenticated documents from the university itself."

"A failed dynast today chose to speak about his failed political journeys in US. Rahul Gandhi belittled his political opponents in America. It is not surprising that a dynast has absolutely no support. The fact that Rahul Gandhi chose to belittle the Prime Minister is not surprising rather it was expected. After not getting any support within the country, Rahul Gandhi is expressing his pain in foreign land."

"The man who broke the Bank of England and is designated by the nation an economic war criminal has now pronounced his desire to break Indian democracy. George Soros, an international entrepreneur has declared his ill-intention to intervene in democratic processes of India... [Smriti Irani called upon citizens to] denounce the intention of this individual who seeks to demonise our democracy and who brings an onslaught to the economy of India so that he can personally gain... Those who Mr Soros finds pliable need to know India has defeated imperialistic design before and shall do again. Democracy has prevailed in India and will continue to do so. Designs to weaken Indian democracy will be met with might of India under leadership of PM Modi."

"How could you embarrass an embarrassment? It’s an oxymoron... If you stand in the capital of India and say you support “Bharat ke tukde honge” (India will be broken into pieces), I don’t have an iota of respect for such individuals."

"I am not an astrologer, but I can assure you that the BJP will form the government. If not, do you think Congress leaders who have been humiliating Hindu Gods would prostrate before them now?"

"Now trust me, I have left my house at Delhi in the morning at 4 today, I caught a flight at 5 to go to Kochi, I did a conclave there, caught a flight at 5 to come to this programme, by the time I get to anything called food, it will be 10’ O Clock. If you’ve called me at any time of the day today from Gallup and asked, ‘Are you hungry’, I’ll say, Oh yes, I am."

"Which gay man, without a uterus, has a menstrual cycle?"

"Smriti Irani's comment on Rahul Gandhi that 'ghar par ladka hai par lad nahin sakta' (There is a boy at home who cannot fight) is wrong. Being a woman, such a statement is incorrect. Instead, she should encourage women by saying that they should fight for themselves."

"We have named Smriti Irani as Cylinder Cindrella as when the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh led UPA government was in power at that Smriti Irani used to hold protest demonstrations by carrying LPG cylinder on slight increase in LPG but now she seems to be ignorant about the LPG price and is maintaining a silence."

"It is giving out a message saying, that sometimes your decisions probably are not supported by your family, but, if you think you are going in a right direction go ahead with it."

"Not at all. It’s so hectic. On your wedding day, you just wear it for like 6 hours and you’re not even concentrating on it because you’re in another zone. But here, you not thinking of the marriage, you’re just shooting and looking at the watch… oh it’s 9 o’clock, I have to leave. It was nice to wear all this initially, but with time it just gets tiring."

"Of course I see both the things. For an actor you don’t have as many years to work as others do. I cannot work from 18 – 50 years of age. No doubt now there are different genres that are giving equally importance to older woman. It’s like make hay when there’s sunshine. I don’t take up a show for money, I take it up for the concept and then I see if the money is good or not."

"Well, I mainly married Neeraj because of love (laughs) and then because I don’t have too many actor friends. Also I always wanted a non actor and I’m glad it happened!"

"I don’t know about that because nobody said anything to me on my face. And if I was being favoured, I would have just come for a couple of hours for the shoot and gone. Instead, I used to be on the sets for more than six hours, rehearsing, performing and then rushing off for my Madhubala shoot!"

"That I simply love pani puri and Maggie noodles."

"Besides the long working hours, it can get monotonous meeting the same people and saying the samelines."

"A golden opportunity to show the world your talent. Fame, appreciation and love follows."

"I don’t think any heroine’s marital status matters. On TV, it’s all about the character. We have so many married actresses playing lead roles on TV shows. We are probably more married on TV than in real life."

"If I have to use an adjective to define myself, then I might use ‘cute’ but I don’t think I’m sexy. If people think that I’m sexy, then I’m happy."

"I think women should know how to be cultured and traditional, yet independent. That balance is important. Every woman should have the strength to speak for herself."

"Oh I’m glad we’ve finally started to have some scenes together and we share a very great rapport. Siddhant (Karnick) is such a well mannered person who’ll offer his chair to people and keep worrying if you want something. He’s a very sweet guy."

"I think she was a diva, an epitome of beauty. I don't think I can ever be remotely compared with her. I don't think there's anyone as beautiful as her in the industry. If and when people see the show, they will realise, it's not about her, so there shouldn't be any comparisons."

"Madhubala' is just a tribute to the film fraternity, to people from the industry - actors, junior artists, co-ordinators, the families who deal with them. It is an attempt to show how they are in real life and the emotions that they go through. It's about what happens behind-the-scenes, not about one person."

"I am done with the clichéd heroine roles. I can’t go to work without a challenge. I want to do films that drive me, films in which I am a part of the main plot. There are times when I’ve watched the final outcome of a film and wondered what was going on. I get tired of coming up with the same expressions. When I have to be sad, I tell myself ‘okay, time to use expression number 5’."

"Realising just how hard it is to get a meaningful role for a heroine in the south. I haven’t signed as many films as I’d like to because there are no good roles. As disheartening as it is to say."

"You all know about the leaks controversy on social media. My character is very close to every girl in that video. It also gives a message to every person who circulated, opened, saw and laughed at those videos. I have acted in many films in full length roles. Though I have a short role in this film (Raju Gari Gadhi 2), the impact is high. It’s going to be one of the best ones."

"It’s an eight-year-long friendship. I married my best friend (Naga Chaitanya). I know I am Akkineni Samantha from now onwards and I have to live up to the family’s legacy and reputation."

"I have made my fair share of mistakes. In the beginning when you are trying to find your way, you end up doing stereotypical and cliche roles, I have done all of that. I am at a stage in regional cinema where I am looking to do roles that test and push me to my limit. In Hindi films, I don't have the energy to do the same thing again and get back to the point to where I want to do work that I want to do. In regional films, I am in a position to pick out-of-the-box roles but if I do Hindi films I won't get that opportunity."

"It was a great chance to show viewers who I really am. I’m a really bubbly, talkative person who loves to make fun of others and keep everyone laughing. I want the audiences to keep looking out for “that attractive girl” who takes on all the tasks and keeps entertaining them."

"I’ve never really planned anything in my career, and just taken the chances as they came my way. I like to think of myself as destiny’s child! I’m sure people down south also check out the Hindi version."

"I haven’t been able to sleep before entering the house; I’m that thrilled to share the same stage as him. It’s an absolute dream come true."

"Every safety measure has been taken, and I know I’m in good hands. The important thing for an actor or performer is to get constant visibility; now with films being stalled, this is the perfect opportunity for us to impress audiences every day. After the show, I will make my Bollywood debut, and down south, I really hope I get a chance to work with Vijay Sethupathi sir."

"I feel, but actually I feel very validated from that film. The reason being, that film actually got me into the minds of really young kids because a lot of really young kids watch Baahubali. They still think I’m the butterfly girl, and there are so many things about that film."

"In some films, you don’t just need to hog center stage. I mean, I’ve done a lot of ensemble work in my career. Strangely enough, my first big success was an ensemble again, Baahubali happened to be one. I’m very secure as an actor. I know my skill and the impact I have on screen. I’ll get five scenes. I will do it to such perfection that people will remember me."

"If Tom Cruise can do an action sequence in his 60's, I can do a song like "Kaavaalaa" even when I am 60 too."

"Being an actor is in your hand. But to be a star, you need people to love you.That happens to very few people and I feel really fortunate."

"As an actor, I understand what it takes to have an extremely long career and that requires a very different kind of skill set. It's not about just being relevant. It's about being memorable."

"Glamour in a woman is to be celebrated, and we women must celebrate ourselves. Then we can expect other people to celebrate us. But if we look at ourselves in a certain way then nobody can respect us."

"New York City was my first introduction to America. It was a beautiful welcome because in the streets I saw people of all colors, wearing different outfits, clearly from different parts of the world. While I was still feeling like a foreigner, an immigrant, an outsider, there were so many people I could point to even as a young child who looked completely different, too."

"The best way to improve matters in your own actions is to first understand and accept the reasons for systemic prejudice and how that discrimination manifests in people’s lives over generations. Then you have to accept the ways in which some groups — perhaps your own — have benefited from this societal favoritism. And then you have to open your mouth and be an active member of your community to vote out elected officials who are part of the problem."

"Just by the very fact that my mother divorced my father — it was so taboo to have a divorce in India and you were ostracized — I saw her break barriers within her own life."

"I would love to write more children’s books. I think children can understand complex things so long as you explain them in words they can wrap themselves around."

"And the truth is, models are freaks of nature. We are not normal people, and we're just born this way because of a genetic cocktail that our parents gave to us. You know, most of us have a really high metabolism."

"Rejection is a part of my job. It has been a part of my career as a food person and a filmmaker. It was certainly part of my job as an actor, and even more part of a job as a model. So, it is something that I have to accept. It’s not for the faint of heart."

"The world is getting bigger and smaller at the same time. The possibilities and opportunities to taste different kinds of foods are much more prevalent today than even 10 or 15 years ago. At the same time, because people are traveling, in spite of certain parts of the world that are dangerous, you do get to try more things. With the Internet and Instagram, you get to know about all these funky dishes."

"You know how you’re completely different with your mom than you are with your best friend, than you are with your romantic partner, than you are with your boss? They’re just different facets of me."

"Growing older gracefully means having a keen curiosity about learning things about the world that you didn’t know yesterday, no matter how many yesterdays you've had."

"I wanted to do a show to give people whom I have grown up with, whether they were Filipino, Mexican or whatever, the platform to speak for themselves."

"The professional food world is dominated by men. But most of the actual cooking of food in the world is done by women. And we women have always had to make do with whatever we can. We’re a little bit like water—we find our way because we’ve had to."

"Bengaluru is home for me. Being from Udupi, Karnataka, I have many relatives in Bengaluru. I used to come down for Bangalore Fashion Week. It was a lot of fun and I had made so many good friends."

"I had recently gone for a magazine shoot to Antalya, Turkey. From there, I went on a holiday to Istanbul, and it’s the first time I had gone on a trip on my own. I see travelling as a great learning process and my biggest dream is to travel the world."

"I love the South Industry and have a lot of respect for it. I started from there, they are very welcoming to outsiders and newcomers. It has been treating me really well. My fan base is increasing and more than anything I really enjoy shooting."

"I'm in a phase right now where I want to be part of great films and enjoy my time on set."

"I can speak Telugu fluently and I do dub my own lines. As soon as I started doing Telugu films, I began learning the language in the hope that I can soon dub my own lines. I felt this was needed to honour my craft. To be able to connect with the Telugu audience, it was really imperative to speak the language."

"I decided to give up meat and fish for ethical reasons. And a vegetarian diet is very healthy for all ages."

"When you spend the weekend raging at #Coldplay and come back to find out you’re penniless. I can’t wrap my head around all these different angles and “groundbreaking” details everyone seems to know so much about. Straight from the horse’s mouth – There is much ado about nothing."

"I have been a vegetarian all my life, as has my family, including all my dogs. Even when my father, a nonvegetarian, comes home for dinner, he has to eat vegetarian fare."

"I was more like a tomboy. That’s what I have been told by everyone. Life changed after I started acting and I was committed to my work. But life after marriage has changed me completely. I am loving this phase and I enjoy being with my husband Bharat and daughter Radhya. … I am enjoying this phase [of motherhood]. I feel complete now. You celebrate life with children around. I have finally become a woman now. I will soon have my second child and my family will be complete."

"Being a doctor, as well as a model, I know that eating veg is the first and most important ingredient in keeping fit. If you eat chicken or other meat, you’re consuming toxins, fat, and cholesterol. Veg food is powered with all the vitamins and protein you need to be at your best."

"As a promoter of vegetarianism, I think it’s important to realise that we don’t own this planet, we’re co-existing with animals and so we need to have compassion for every co-member of the planet. We should be kind to plants as well."

"Even seemingly small choices can have a big impact on our health, our community and the world around us. Going vegetarian is one of the easiest ways to improve our health, help countless animals and protect the Earth."

"Going vegetarian is not only a great way to trim your waist, but you'll be shrinking your carbon footprint too. I love that my diet is as kind to the planet as it is to animals and my health!"

"It's a great feeling to eat "green". By being vegetarian, I'm fuelling my body with the rich nutrients in fruits and veggies, helping animals and doing my part to save the planet."

"I call being vegetarian the Wow Rao diet. Wow because I know that being vegetarian is the best thing I can do for myself, the animals and the environment. Pulses can get pulses racing, while corpse cuisine slows you down. Kick the meat habit and you'll look and feel better than ever."

"Anmol tells me from cute I’ve become hot after I’ve had the baby. I think every woman looks hotter after she has had a baby!"

"I love chicks, pigs, cows, fish, and all the other animals too. That's why I turned vegetarian. … I am very happy being a vegetarian and I believe that it is the best way to be. The day I started believing in the fact that I would want not to kill animals for my taste buds, that is the day everything changed for me."

"In my life, whatever I've planned has not really panned out within that time frame. I'm a man who's trying to make a plan but eventually I have realised that God or destiny had other plans for me. So, I'm learning to surrender now."

"I trust my instincts. If I bump into an interesting woman, I don’t wait to plan a date. I’d rather ask her out for dinner right then. It has happened often enough, and I have had some great conversations. More than physical attributes, I look for an interesting personality, though I won’t deny I find long and loose hair very sexy."

"I have received a lot of love on this platform. I believe good content gets recognised either way. Every actor wants to reach the widest audience possible, and on this platform, you have to work harder to keep people engaged because, unlike theatres, they are sitting with a remote in their hands."

"Yes. I think so that at the back of my mind that there was this kind of response and you can't close yourself to this kind of feedback as long as its constructive. So I think I've tried to show many kinds of shades of what I am in terms of the films that I've chosen, in terms of scripts that I've chosen."

"I like more intense and earthy things, I have different colognes for the day and night. And I love to follow my own vibe when I am dressing up."

"Passionate, obsessive and very attached. There are a few people I get attached to in my life and when I do, I get very sensitive. I have bad ways of communicating. I communicate indirectly. May be through some actions,gestures. I won't be saying yes or no directly at times. If I'm left alone with that person, I will truly show my best and worst side. That's what I believe true love should be like. You cannot put up a front of being this perfect guy always, helping out, understanding all the time. You should show your good side and the dark side, too. Because that's what I believe life is about."

"I enjoy eating Italian and Japanese cuisine, and abroad I love Zuma, Nobu and Cipriani. I eat just about anything and everything on my cheat days. But I’m crazy about sweets and dark chocolate."

"I have tried my best to change my vibe in every film, be it looks or character sketch. Though you never stop learning in acting, but after a certain age, you do figure out what you want to do and how you want to do portray a character."

"Modeling is in my blood. My first love has always been modeling. But I got married to acting."

"I believe there's some strange luck that works in my favour. I have always been in extremely good company."

"Today and Everyday all I Choose to be is..HAPPY!"

"My metabolic rate has been high since birth, so I don't have to diet or go to the gym."

"I’m unafraid of challenges when it comes to experimenting with looks, as I thoroughly enjoy them, and it rather excites me."

"Today I have more clarity about what I am doing and why I am doing it. That is a big change in me. Today I know where I am going right or wrong. I try and be aware of what I’m doing as a performer. Whenever I get a break, I get into an acting workshop. I have realised that I am a spontaneous actor. I internalise a lot of things when it comes to performance. I feel in control of my performance, to an extent. There is method and spontaneity. Eventually, there is this magic moment between action and cut. Being spontaneous works for me... because I have this rush of emotions in between action and cut. And I cannot do the same shot again. The emotional graph of mine is very spontaneous. It is very alive at that moment."

"Confidence and elegance define my style. I embrace bold fashion choices while staying true to my individuality. With every outfit, I aim to exude poise and grace, leaving a lasting impression wherever I go. My style is an artistic expression of modern sophistication. I curate a blend of high fashion and individuality, pushing boundaries while maintaining an air of effortless elegance. Each ensemble I choose tells a unique story, showcasing my passion for creativity and innovation in the world of fashion."

"As an actor, I love the ability to immerse myself in different characters and bring stories to life. Acting allows you to explore diverse emotions, experiences, and perspectives, enabling you to connect with audiences on an emotional level."

"Being a Judge for Miss Universe at such a young age, since a girl of my age was competing for it and I was the judge at that show, it was a privileged time for me and gave me a totally different type of hype. It was an exciting moment for me, too, as an Indian woman won the Miss Universe title at the same time."

"I would like to advise you to improve your skills and train on your physique. It depends on which model you are: commercial, beauty model, ramp walk model. You are someone who is doing everything. Remember always try to improve and polish your acting skills. If you are a ramp walk model, improve your different kinds of ramp walk skills. Be a real professional who knows what to do on the spotlights."

"At home, we cooked the traditional way, with a unique Saurashtrian curry powder, used for all kinds of gravies. Mutton was the main dish — as a kid, I remember eating mutton for breakfast, lunch and dinner. By the time, I hit my teens, I was fed up with the mutton overdose."

"I have been body shamed. My body’s size and complexion have often been ridiculed and stared at by people. At the same time, a lot of people loved me for my body. So I am never unhappy about my beautiful body. I clearly know that it was my physical appeal rather than my acting skills which made me achieve all these. For the same reason, many have deceived me making false promises."

"I literally starved for months. Getting a bikini body is not a joke, as you need to get that structure first to sport one. I hope I look good, and it has come out really well. I never thought I could put it off."

"If someone who matters to you takes you down, it can break you. That someone whose approval mattered to me started to constantly find faults with me. At that point of time, it was important to walk away from that relationship."

"I am a person with a lot of faith and I have conversations [with God] all the time but I am not so religious in the conventional, organised sense."

"There was a complete lack of conviction on my part. Just playing myself doesn't excite me, which is why I thought I could sleepwalk through it. I couldn't sleep or walk after that."

"I did not set out to break stereotypes."

"My work is an extension of the person I am and of my beliefs."

"I follow my instincts. Sometimes it works commercially and sometimes it doesn’t, but I don’t regret a single film."

"I choose characters for the irresistible power they exude."

"February 15th, 2014, I remember waking up that morning with a strange pittish feeling in my stomach. I had no idea what I was feeling. Life all of a sudden just felt meaningless"

"Depression is not the same as sadness. Depression is an illness like any other illness such as cancer and diabetes"

"There is hope. We’re all in this together"

"It is important for you to realise that it is okay to go through what you are going through"

"Understand what you are going through. Share it with people you trust. Even if they judge you, so what"