Kangana Ranaut

“When I left my home to become an actress, my father didn't give me a single penny. I struggled a lot, and they had no idea what I went through. My grandfather even asked me to drop my surname when he learnt I was joining films.”

“I am extremely proud of my rags-to-riches story. It's fun to be a misfit or an underdog if you acknowledge your gifts and befriend your obstacles.”

“I think there are things that you look for when you're younger, and you think they are going to make you happier or make you feel complete. That's not going to happen, and it's really about living the moments. Eventually, you reach a point when you're at ease with your life and don't have any unrealistic expectations.”

“I started from B-grade films, and today I'm the number one actress of this country... whereas other actresses, whom you might call my contemporaries, they have had no growth in whatever platform they were launched... they are still there and have not risen to another platform.”

“Success is the best revenge. I always feel women should answer back either with their sarcasm or success.”

“The thing about Bollywood is that you can't just quit it even if you have little fame. You have to stick around and keep trying.”

“I don't really give into all that philosophical talks that 'money is not everything.'”

“My biggest asset is that I know how to learn, and that, I believe, will help me in the long run.”

“Sucking up to a director means you are unsure of your talents. I'm not.”

“Our society loves raw character; we love raw women. We don't love our mother because she is hot and sexy: we love our mother because she is our mother. We love our granny because she is our granny. We value her. We don't remember anyone's face from our childhood; we love our granny's face.”

“Going vegetarian - and then vegan - has calmed me down, and it has also made me physically and emotionally strong. I do crave meat once in a while, but I find that spiritually, non-vegetarian food works against my emotional health.”

“When I was born, my parents - my mother especially - couldn't come to terms with that fact that they had another baby girl. I know these stories in detail because every time a guest visited, or there was a gathering, they repeated this story in front of me that how I was the unwanted child.”

“In 'Rangoon', I play an action star of the 1940s.”

“Women empowerment does not mean you create complex among men. Then it will take 20 more years to empower men. It is all about evolving as a soul, as a human being. It does not mean that you become a sexist.”

“I liked the fact that my father had a lot of expectations from my brother. I probably wanted to be that person who he could be proud of.”

“I don't find anything upsetting or gross or degrading about fighting with a mental illness: Bipolar or Schizophrenia.”

“For me, to be in a place where I'm on the 'favourite' list of top directors I like, that's being number one. There is no other definition to me. It's not money; it's not how many songs you're seen in or how many clothes you're changing in the film.”

“There have been interviews with people saying they are jealous of Kangana. There are so many people who are jealous of my success.”

“Male actors get into production, share profit, and they don't take money at times but are involved in some capacity which is economical and resourceful. These things suit them; as they have made a place for themselves, they have command over the box office.”

“This man who was my father's age hit me hard on my head when I was 17. I started bleeding. I took out my sandal and hit his head hard, and he started to bleed, too.”