ADITI RAO HYDARI

I always feel blessed because so many people have taken me under their wings, nurtured me, and made me a part of their vision.

I saw Mani sir's 'Bombay,' and I wanted to be a Mani sir heroine.

I'm very clear about my priorities - quality and credibility is important to me. A film and a character that lives beyond my years is important to me. People's love is important to me.

When you're happy, you look beautiful.

I'm really pleased with the way my career is shaping up. How many actresses get a chance to work with legends like Mani Ratnam and Sanjay Leela Bhansali?

I remember in a film of mine, though both my co-star and I were newcomers, he got far better paid than me. I was shocked and appalled. I actually asked him what different are you doing that you are getting better paid!

People who can actually challenge me and push me and almost push me to breaking point and extract a performance out of me, I really enjoy that.

I do not experiment very much and prefer the kind of clothes that Sabyasachi designs - they are rooted in our traditions and yet are very modern. I think it has something to do with my growing-up years and the kind of clothes I saw around me.

I don't think art is bound by language or country.

We women are glamorous, we work hard, and that's how we work in Bollywood.

Everyone in Hyderabad is generous and loving.

I don't want to become a jaded person, and I don't want to be complacent.

It's always exciting to work with people you admire.

The industry is a difficult place to be in. It is not at all rosy. There are judgements being made. I don't like bad publicity, but that is part and parcel of it. However, I am grateful for whatever I have got from the industry.

I love that I have no inhibitions. I like to be shameless in front of the camera.

At the beginning, when I did 'Yeh Saali Hai Zindagi,' I got a lot of love, which is ever increasing.

Though all actors do not make good directors, Dhanush is really one of the finest. He knows exactly how to direct an actor to extract the performance the way he wants it. Perhaps that is happening because he is a performer himself.

'Happy girls are the prettiest,' and to be in the camera frame makes me happy. I just want myself to keep working. I can be in front of the camera for 48 hours continuously without any breaks.

The whole point of creativity is that it has no boundaries of language, region, and age.

I am not a trained singer, but when I was offered to sing for 'LPNY,' I took it up as a challenge.

I must say that Dhanush wears the hat of director and actor pretty seamlessly.

I am grateful for all the opportunities I've had.

Labels are limiting, and I don't like them.

It's archaic to think about films as a solo lead or multi-starrer.

'Atonement' is one of my all-time favourite movies.