Aditi Rao Hydari

“Everyone associates Hyderabad with biryani, so when I say I was born here, the first thing people ask is - 'When will you make Hyderabadi khana for us?' Whenever I make biryani, my friends come over.”

“I read a lot, but in comparison to my family, it's nothing. I keep telling them, 'I'm the illiterate of the family.' My grandfather used to read five books at a time.”

“Akshay Kumar is always on time. He is always disciplined and hard working but also always entertaining, fun behind the camera and also in front of it.”

“In film business or any business, for that matter, there are people with different mindsets. Some would be compassionate and respectful, some might just be the womaniser, but how can we generalise that? That is wrong, I guess... That way, in a male-dominating society, shining is tough for women.”

“I don't want to be complacent, ever.”

“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.”

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

“My mother is a Chitrapur Saraswat from Mangalore and half-Telugu, and my father is a Bohri Muslim. My mother's father, J Rameshwar Rao, was the Raja of Wanaparthy, a principality of Hyderabad. He was influenced by the socialist movement and became the first Raja to give up his title.”

“In general, a film's delay is disheartening for actors, but it's harder on the director and the producer who have been on the project for longer than anyone else. While actors move on to other projects, the film's makers don't.”

“'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.”

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

“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!”

“I don't like talking about my love for singing.”

“I'm a dancer and comfortable with my body.”

“When you'e working with great actors, your performance also becomes better because you have such great energy in front of you.”

“I feel that I don't know anything, I don't know how to act, but I can surrender myself to a director I respect and love. I feel very lucky to be a part of their visions.”

“I want to work with good people and good directors.”

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

“I have been lucky that good people have chosen me to be a part of their films, and I am really grateful.”

“I only can talk about myself and my experience. Honestly, working on your own terms is difficult for a newcomer but not impossible. I am an example of that.”