I was very focused when I wanted to make 'Dil Chahta Hai,' though it was difficult for me to convince people that I know how to make films and I will be able to direct and put a film together.

The first time I re-discovered the joy of watching an action movie was when I saw 'Die Hard.' It was a completely simple plot - a guy goes to meet his wife, and the building gets taken over by terrorists - but I was completely blown away. Great characters, and it moved along really fast.

Every director has a sensibility and style, and what works is his originality and conviction.

The more time you have, you should dedicate it to do creative work.

You have to be grateful for what you have, but you're always pushing further.

I love travelling, especially to Goa.

It does not feel any different being directed by a first-timer as long as I am convinced that the director is passionate about the film he or she is making. If you get a sense of their vision for the film and their aesthetics of your performance, then it does not matter whether you work with a new or an experienced director.

I usually play volleyball three times a week.

When I watched Guru Dutt's films, they just blew my mind.

Whether it is crimes against women, whether it's discrimination against women, whether it's just social bias against women - these things should be anomalies; they should not be the norm.

Work does affect my personal life, as it consumes most of my time. It takes away a lot from my family time.

I remember so clearly as a kid, my biggest problem in life was I used to never follow up on anything.

Filmmaking, whatever the window dressing or the scale of a film may be, is eventually about telling a story.

As the director, you are the organiser who has to have all the answers. You are the person with maximum clarity.

I think nothing can be taken for granted - be it the fact that you get to work with a certain kind of talent, certain kinds of budgets, or that the audience looks forward to your work.

If you had a fabricated story coming out every two weeks or every month, it would affect you. You would be like, 'What's the problem with people?' or 'Why can't they let me be?' And that's the thought that comes into anyone's mind.

Being a parent to my daughters, son to my parents, and friends to many people, I would wish for a society that's fair to everyone, that's free of prejudice and as non-divisive as possible.

My sister Zoya and I have been exposed to the best of cinema of all kinds - Chinese, Japanese, Italian, etc.

A break-up between couples is traumatic for everyone.

In any case, I am not a great one to make plans for the future.

When I take up a film, I always think of the effect it will have on my children when they see the film years later.

Everyone has a Milkha Singh in them.

Cinema, I always felt, is a very powerful mass medium to translate ideas in an engaging way.

Even within escapist cinema, if you find a good story to tell, it will do well.

People want a certain amount of respect when they watch a film: it should be worth of their time.

As an actor, I am extremely fortunate to portray Milkha Singh on the big screen.

When I made my debut as an actor in 'Rock On!' I was confident to get in front of the camera.

I am not trained to be a director or an actor. I have learnt everything by watching other people work and studying their work.

'Dil Chahta Hai' is not the first film about friendship. 'Lakshya' is not the first film about war and coming of age.

I guess just enjoying what you do and always wanting more of that enjoyment, satisfaction, and putting something together creatively - that gives me a lot of happiness.

When you go to a film set, of course you're going to do your job, and you're excited about being there, but you somehow feel fatigued that you are just doing this day in and day out.

From being in a film and shooting to just being in a studio with my guitar and musicians was a welcome change.

Amitabh Bachchan was the coolest character in every movie.

Most Hindi movies tend to dramatise events. They are very dialogue heavy. Characters don't speak like people normally do in real life.

When not working, my days are lazy.

I take a more holistic approach to fitness than trying to achieve a certain body to display.

If I don't work out, I lose weight instead of gaining it.

I like to stay within the zone of one character. It would disturb me to break away and go into an entirely different territory.

I feel with 'Don 2' I got an opportunity to do a very good action with the kind of pace that I would like an action film to have.

To me 'Qurbani' was a good action film - it was fast, had one plot, and moved along at a pace, and it didn't really divert attention.

To me, action has to come from the plot.

Being healthy is not just about building a body: it is a lifestyle that manifests itself in your general outlook. It makes you more positive and optimistic and increases your energy level.

I think it is important to play a sport. Apart from the joy of it, it helps keep you fit.

'Lakshya' is a different genre of movie. While 'Dil Chahta Hai' could be categorised as a romantic comedy, this is a war drama.

'Haqeeqat' was a good war drama.

The Ladakhis, as a people, are quite laidback.

With 'Dil Chahta Hai' being the first film and 'Lakshya' being the second, what people can expect from Excel Entertainment as a company, and from me as a director, is just good, clean entertainment. And hopefully, some residue of an idea or thought that you can take home and mull over.

I have been a fan of movies from a very young age, and somehow, the magic of that - every single time I hear something or read something that could be made into a wonderful film or something somebody is asking me to be a part of - that connects. It just makes me feel like I'm going to be part of something magical again.

I think if I had a choice, I'd like to be in a film with De Niro.

To hear someone talk about their life - you get to know the way their eyes moisten up, how big the smile is or how comfortable their body language is while talking to someone.