KALKI KOECHLIN

My mum was quite strict, so I was in a very strict household.

What makes us really human is it's in the presence of death that we start valuing life.

You shouldn't feel awkward in your own body and constantly try to be an image for somebody else. You should to be comfortable in it.

If you can't go for a honeymoon, steal a weekend and go somewhere. Anurag and I do it quite often. We switch off our phones and go for a small weekend getaway.

I do like to dress up, and I love to go for red carpet events and look my best, but I have to be comfortable, and I don't want to wear make-up when I am taking a flight.

I feel, at times, women in India go beyond their comfort zone just to clad the trend, and that automatically becomes a faux pas. If you are not comfortable with something, please don't wear it.

I do not get that many offers in commercial cinema, to be very honest.

I don't believe in becoming famous overnight.

In the beginning, I was very stubborn and always wanted to be just an actor. I was told by a lot of people to try my hand at writing or directing, but I always thought, 'I am an actor, and this is what I want to do.'

There's nothing like performing for a live audience.

I like Kerala a lot. The beautiful beaches there, the backwaters - I have good memories of the place.

I don't even mind playing a bimbo or a silly girl, as long as it isn't stereotyped and there's a reason for that character to be part of the story.

People often think that I am funny and crazy, but I think they have also come to love me for it.

There were a lot of pretty women in cinema around Audrey Hepburn's time, but she stood out because she had a very interesting personality - which went beyond her looks. She did so much for women, for animal rights, for children's education - it's always the personality that comes through and makes one seem beautiful.

Once I got married, I was only invited to the things that Anurag was invited to. People would say, 'Call Anurag's wife.' They wouldn't say, 'call Kalki' or 'call Kalki's husband.'

When I was studying in London, I worked part-time as a waitress. I was teaching drama to kids. I did a lot of odd jobs to pay for my studies.

You can't force people to change. You can only give them the option.

I improvise a lot and try something new every couple of years.

I have so much advice for men. They need to know that their mother is not their wife... and their wife will never be their mother.

Woody Allen's sense of humour has always attracted me, and I love the way he can make life so meaningful and yet show us what a farce it can be at the same time.

People like Priyanka Chopra and Kangana Ranaut are really paving the way for successful women.

I want to work with as many directors as possible because with each director, you learn something new.

Theatre is more metaphorical where you have to be louder and larger than life, whereas film is more subtle and more real.

I have never been ashamed of whatever I do.

I think it's what's inside that makes you beautiful on the outside.