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I won't give the credit to 'good fortune.' Whatever I have achieved is because of my hard work and passion.
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Behind every easy role, there is a lot of hard work that goes in.
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Commercial hit films such as 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan,' 'Talaash,' and 'Kick' had big superstars to sell them; that may not have been the case if it were just me.
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I still can't believe it when people say I am a celebrity.
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I feel satisfied after achieving something difficult.
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I was fortunate enough to get an author-backed role in Aamir Khan starrer 'Talash.'
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I kind of discovered Kolkata when I was shooting here for 'Kahaani.' I found the city fascinating.
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I was introduced to cinema by C-grade films that played in my village, Budhana, in UP. Only films by Dada Kondke, Mahendra Sandhu, and Kanti Shah were available.
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I think there is no racism in this film industry. They are only in need of talent, though it takes time; but, if you are talented, you will get your due. I am thankful to be part of this industry.
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How long will we keep making films where hero-heroine is dancing around trees?
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Rituparno Ghosh is a legendary director, and I happen to be a huge fan of his.
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I was shooting for 'Kahaani' and 'GOW' back to back. I was in a village on work, where a man extended a paper to me. For a minute I thought he wanted another actor's autograph. I looked back and forth, but there was no one. That was quite an experience.
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The film industry is mostly about unidimensional characters.
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Looks is a matter of perception. At Cannes, Europeans think I am good looking, while in India, I am not.
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Being a recognised face has its problems. I miss the freedom to go anywhere I want to.
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'Freaky Ali' is not a heavy film. It's a simple but inspiring film. It will inspire those who want to go from zero to hundred. People who have made an effort to achieve success from nothing will be able to connect to the character.
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I don't understand what A grade commercial cinema is. If you are talking about box office success, mine are A+ then!
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I don't want my work to be heavy. The challenge is to make it interesting and engaging, keeping in mind the need for method acting. This is what I have learnt from Bharat Muni's 'Natya Shastra' and from the Russian theatre legend Stanislavsky.
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My character should not be ordinary, cliched, and if I feel that it's difficult to do this character, I take up that challenge to get into his character.
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'Kahaani' gave me popularity and 'Gangs of Wasseypur' stardom.
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I grew fond of acting rather late. And that was because I was not getting any job. I had a few friends in Delhi who were associated with theater. They took me to see some plays in Delhi and Baroda. That led me to believe the I could also act. And it was after that I joined National School of Drama in 1993.
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Prior to joining NSD, I was briefly associated with a small theater group in Delhi called Sakshi. Saurabh Shukla, Manoj Bapayee were my seniors in that group. I performed a few supporting roles in Sakshi plays.
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A big blockbuster like 'Kick' expands the audience for my films and makes it easier to promote them.
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I have never thought about creating an image for myself in Bollywood. I am an actor and just want to experiment with roles. I am ready to do all type of roles.