Rajiv Menon

“Information is available freely on the Net, but what's missing is passion. And only a teacher can impart that passion and deep desire for excellence every day. Moreover, a classroom environment helps overcome certain psychological aspects, including inferiority complex.”

“The actor should understand the script and come prepared to play the role. At the same time, they should be flexible enough to take the director's input and portray his vision.”

“I like fractured characters with human follies.”

“Cinema has to move people.”

“The film industry is moving towards digital technology.”

“I love telling stories. But I believe that nobody could teach you to direct a movie.”

“I am very much open to doing cinematography for any talented filmmaker, if the script is good.”

“Good acting is confused with good dialogue delivery. Acting is about all about performance, and the way we interpret and understand the character that we bring alive onscreen.”

“Music is one field where your caste and religion is not important. People accept you so long as you can move them. It is a medium that allows you to fly beyond your caste.”

“Looks are not important when it comes to acting.”

“Accents are not for comic relief anymore; they root the character to the place they're from.”

“With realistic and deglamourised roles and live sound, the charisma of a star is not enough. Can you be many different people?”

“We have to create images that remain in people's memory because a film is judged by what they have already seen. You are trying to create an image that is unique and you have to employ all the resources available to you.”

“I used to be a reasonably good student.”

“Everyone thinks I am rich, I have a plush office, I make advertisements and travel - but only I know the kinds of problems I face.”

“I think directing a film is like a woman going through labour. After she goes through the labour pain and delivers her first baby, she says she will not going to have another baby. Then, when she sees the child growing up, she decides to have one more child!”

“You no more have to come to the city and access a laboratory to make a film. If you have a DSLR and a reasonably powerful laptop, you could be making films anywhere.”

“Developing aesthetic sense is vital for actors. They must understand that there is no small role, only small actors. A good actor will do the smallest role to perfection, and be recognised.”

“I make my living by shooting ad-films, and, in fact, that's how I began my career.”

“My films are musically inclined.”