Tabu Quotes

One never can plan. I just did my work and enjoyed shooting for all my films.

What has helped me is my success in commercial cinema. It has given me a platform for others to cast me in their films. If I did not have the commercial success, then I wouldn’t be able to do the smaller films.

Most stabilizing part of my career is that I have done all genres. I hate classification.

I love song and dance films in Bollywood.

I like to spend time with family and friends and share my experiences with them.

I only do work that suits my temperament.

There is always something that you will take away from each project. There definitely has to be something that you have said yes to in the first place. In some projects, it’s the freedom to express yourself more; in some, it’s a bigger sense of camaraderie, and somewhere, it’s the money that is great.

Why was it important for women to be only nice? Why can’t she have dark layers? So when they came to me – films like ‘Maqbool’ and ‘Astitva’ – they just grabbed me, and I wanted to be part of them.

Working in ‘The Namesake’ was a personally enriching experience.

I don’t think of people as out-and-out black or white.

I should be satisfied first as an actor with my work. I will not do something because everyone is doing it.

I have not done any film where my role didn’t make sense.

Films like ‘Shaan,’ ‘Sholay,’ ‘Muqaddar Ka Sikander’ and so many others… they’ve been a part of my growing up years.

I didn’t have a set of rules, dos, and don’ts or a reference point on how I would navigate my career. I never planned to be in a certain place in the industry. I was walking my path and doing things my way.

I had read Jhumpa Lahiri’s ‘Namesake’ and thought it would make a fabulous film, as I could identify with the central character. When Mira Nair announced the film, I wanted to do the role. When it fell into my lap, I was over the moon.

I can’t do back-to-back films.

I had a great time doing Bollywood and Telugu films, and it’s been an interesting journey.

Promotions create awareness, but if there is no merit to the film, what will promotions do anyway?

If I am doing a certain kind of cinema, that does not mean I hate the other kind.

I never planned to be an actress.

I have never done films to prove a point to anyone; I have done them for myself.

I do whatever appeals to me. I have always made my own choices.

There is hunger to have good experiences with people. There will be roles and all of that. But the package of experience has today become important for me. People should be good, established; the filmmaking and acting experience should become heartening.

I could never understand the herd mentality. I have always fought to do things my way and have stuck to that.

You cannot analyse your personality. It is like trying to understand the essential characteristics of a person.

The film industry is actually a tough place to survive.

As a viewer, I will go and watch only commercial films.

Every character, before they are heroes or villains, they are human beings.

I cannot say yes to too many things. I am better off giving attention to one thing at a time.

I want to complete 100 films.

I always wanted to do good work, the best that I was able to, to really discover myself, getting better with each role, and find newer ways to do the same thing.

I really miss doing masala films.

I think every actor worth his or her salt wants to do good, meaningful cinema.

I never want to stick to one genre of movies and was opened to do everything.

‘Cheeni Kum’ was one of the nicest experiences.

Working with Kal Penn in ‘Namesake’ was funny at times. What we did was so real. We had fun on and off the sets, too.

There are so many wonderful films being made everywhere, including in Hollywood.

I never thought I was doing any great work. I never thought I would last. In the beginning, I was terrible. I never used to speak to people. I used to start crying. I was extra sensitive. I would run away home and feel miserable. I didn’t know how to behave then. I was touchy. People interpreted it as arrogance.

I’ve crossed many cultural and gender barriers as a woman.

My fans tell me my height is my biggest asset.

There is nothing wrong with commercial cinema if it is made well. In fact, if you ask me, the Hindi film industry has also produced some truly outstanding works over the years.

I write about different things. Anything that has affected me. Anything that I have liked. Anything that I feel strongly about. Any experience.

Since I am originally from Hyderabad, I speak Telugu fluently.

I love to watch people dance. It is the most fantastic skill and art form that anybody can have.

As far as TV shows are concerned, I would love to do a travel show.

I did not want to do things the way they are usually done in Hindi cinema.

All over the world, actors and actresses are chosen for their performing skills. Not how they look or what they wear. It is all about how they act, how they emote.

Working in ‘Mian Maqbool’ was a refreshing experience.

I don’t find a reason to be on Twitter or Facebook. This is my temperament, and I can’t put myself out 24/7 out there. However, I am not judgmental about others being there.

Coming from a middle-class family in Hyderabad, I was an introvert. I chose to be the way I am.

I followed my own self and individuality so much that it automatically made me a game changer or set me apart from others. I did not think it was necessary to do things the way others are doing it.

I am happy and content with my work and career.

I don’t like to talk about my work. People should see my work and form their opinion based on that, not because of something I said.

I enjoy my work. And there are no two ways to that.

I am proud of my height.

I was really excited when films like ‘Kaala Paani,’ ‘Maachis,’ ‘Chandni Bar’ and others came my way. The sheer fact that I would get to portray various emotions was thrilling.

I laugh, cry, go for movies, eat popcorn. All these things are pretty relaxing for me.

I avoid seeing my films as far as possible because if I don’t like anything, I can’t change it or do it again.

I know people will only come to me with good roles.

I have worked with good directors, and I consider myself very lucky because I think that it is very important.