A biography for Asranihasn’t been written yet.
“Theatre gives you an altogether different kind of thrill which every actor who wants to grow must try.”
“I have seen Hollywood artistes like Al Pacino, Tom Cruise and Tim Burton doing theatre and Broadway shows. Cinema actors tend to go back to theatre because it gives them an opportunity to reinvent themselves.”
“I always fought against vulgarity, double meaning dialogues and wearing la'dies' clothes.”
“I came to Bombay and got my first big break in Hrishikesh Mukherjee's 'Guddi.'”
“Comedy is very effortless.”
“The Gujarat model laced with the Godhra stink is a model of hatred that has taken 2,000 lives, while the Congress model has given 83 flagship programmes and scores of people living below the poverty line have been brought under the Food Security Act.”
“Bimal Roy never kept comedy out of the story line.”
“I am glad that actors like Akshay Kumar and Salman Khan are doing justice to comedy. But in our days, nobody could beat Sunil Dutt and Amitabh Bachchan.”
“Quality cinema is not changing anything, everything is the same. The artistes and other people involved in these films get some recognition at international film festivals and award shows only.”
“I might have done around 100 films but still I have to be successful.”
“I had always thought that Gurgaon was some village, it was only when I came here that I realized that it is nothing less than a world-class city.”
“Indoreans are not only welcoming, but very homely.”
“Mumbai is more film based and cosmopolitan. It consists of a mixed community, but I personally feel that Delhi is more sophisticated and enjoys theatre more.”
“Like Dilip Kumar, I've never run after money but only after good roles and that's why have always rebelled against those directors who wanted me to do buffoonery in the name of comedy.”
“You'd need to polish your skills as you only get one chance. In cinema, retakes are possible but in theatre, there are none.”
“When I did a serious role in 'Koshish,' people said that I didn't look good.”
“BJP's agenda was all wrong. They claimed that India was shining. Is it a utensil which will shine when rubbed? They fooled the people by these slogans and tried to divide them on the lines of religion.”
“It is important for an actor to learn how to face a live audience.”
“I did odd plays, took up small roles. The good part was that the audience always remembered me. However, it used to be quite embarrassing when people used to ask why I was not coming in movies anymore.”
“I was studying in Jaipur when All India Radio was inaugurated. As a child artiste, I participated and was selected for a children's programme.”