Naseeruddin Shah

“People should know what the India of 2018 was like. They shouldn't end up seeing only Salman Khan films 200 years later. India is not like that.”

“It is always a pleasure to be directed by an actor because they know the scene from the actor's perspective, too. That's an advantage.”

“No actor can give his best performance without the help of the director.”

“A person takes his own path. My father tried to guide me the best way he thought I should go, and it didn't work. I went the way I wanted to.”

“I feel that cinema can't change society or bring a revolution. I'm also not sure of cinema as a medium of education. Documentaries can be educative, not feature films.”

“Nobody can send me to Pakistan. India is my country, and I love my country. Five generations of my family have lived and died on this land, and even my children will live in this country because this is my homeland.”

“It's a blessing to stay a child all your life - pretend to be this and that. And get paid for it.”

“Shakespeare is a seminal story-teller. I don't think he imagined he was writing classics or that he was writing great poetry. I don't think he dreamt his work would be staged 400 years after he died.”

“Don't opt for acting as an escape from education.”

“In theatre, there is a unique feeling of everyone working as a team, which you never get in films.”

“Film industry people don't read books.”

“Actors have to learn that they are as important to a movie as the camera is, as important as the sound is, and less important than the script is.”

“It is very tough to make a short film. It's like writing a short story, which is tougher than writing a novel. You can't afford to faff around; you can't indulge. You have to get to the point.”

“I have had enough of an interesting life to not embellish it in any way.”

“There is no such thing as serious cinema in India.”

“I don't think cinema has the power to change anybody's life.”

“Playing the good guy is boring. I love twisted, flawed characters.”

“I don't see a future for Broadway-style theatre in India. We already have Hindi cinema, but small, intimate theatre will survive as long as people feel the need to talk to each other.”

“I had many doubts while writing my autobiography. I wasn't sure if anyone would be interested to read about my life.”

“I am the king of old school romance.”