From my family alone, Qaddafi had imprisoned five men.

Political dictatorships take possession not just of money and belongings but of narrative.

For an overwhelming majority of my life, my country has been a source of pain, fear, and embarrassment.

Throughout my entire life, I have lived in the shadow of the dictatorship. It denied me safety and security.

I am longing to see Libya rejoin the world as the internationalist Mediterranean country that it was.

Being my father's son is a kind of privilege.

To be okay with not knowing is a sign of a mature person and a mature society.

My work is my shelter, particularly in these moments when things are happening fast.

One of the reasons why Gadafy's dictatorship has managed to remain in power for so long is not just because it has shown itself to be able to exact a great deal of violence, both psychological and physical, on its people, but because it has been very successful at imposing a narrative, a story.

To me, writing is like singing in the most inappropriate place, singing as beautifully as you can on a bus or in a bank, where people least expect it, and trying to get them to want to listen.

There is a tendency to over-exaggerate and over-romanticise the place of a writer in a revolution. That bothers me. I think it's inappropriate.

Making something of loss is, on some level, satisfying.

There's always a problem when you write, something you're trying to resolve, and sometimes a view can be inspiring.

I think, ultimately, I am a sensualist and an aesthete.

The romantic idea of the penniless writer is false. It's terrible. I hated being in debt. I hated the anxiety of not knowing whether we could pay our rent that month. Thankfully, I had a wife who was very supportive and had faith and shared my madness.

I've very aware of my rootlessness.

The Qaddafis, father and sons, speak the grammar of dictatorship: threats and bribery.

I hope and pray that I'll be one of those fortunate people who have many, many books to write. I don't begrudge writing. I love the whole thing!

When I'm writing, my mood is very good - and I love life.

I don't think I will be able to quit small screen.

Nothing can match the feeling you get when you finally get something after waiting for it for a long time.

I have been a part of several shows, however this is the first time I am hosting a crime reality show. 'Savdhaan India' is a unique show that showcases how ordinary people have fought crime and stood up for their rights.

The normal perception is that you expect your partner to change for you. But you have to remember that you have married the other person because of the way he or she is.

Bigg Boss' is kind of a real world and now I've figured out a way to deal with things in the outside world in a better way.

I don't have an exact picture of where I aim to see myself, but I want to do something which will be an example for everyone. If anyone is giving a reference for good work, then they should think of me.

If I can, I would like to do as many different roles in a year because then there is no stagnation. That used to happen when I played one role in a serial for years. When a show goes on for years and is delivering ratings, you didn't get the chance to take up other roles and shows.

Through 'Bigg Boss' I got a chance to meet 18 different kinds of people and have now learnt to deal with them.

There are many factors that make a serial hit or flop, but what is important is the character.

Yes, I was married once, before Gauri entered my life.

Divorce isn't the best thing that can happen to anyone.

My marriage with Gauri is the best thing that could ever happen to me.

I think everyone should be a parent at some point in life.

I remember as a kid, my two brothers and I had to share gifts. We couldn't afford to have one for each of us. Today, when I buy a gift I have to buy for both my kids as I can't give something to only one of them.

The values my parents taught me were the best gift I ever got.

There are many kids who are greedy or don't appreciate things or take things for granted but it's not their fault. It's the parents who have to show and teach them the difference between right and wrong.

I love talking, even to strangers.

There is no doubt that the sets are unhygienic but you really can't do much about it because we have to shoot, come what may.

Frankly speaking, I feel anyone who starts acting, be it in theater, TV, or even advertisements, is looking at Bollywood.

I have always wanted to get into Bollywood.

With TV, you don't get much time to prepare. It's all done that day itself, on the set. Shoot, and leave.

All that I am today, every part of my success and experience- it's all because of TV.

As an actor, I want to explore films.

There are many young and new directors, who have fabulous concepts and story ideas, and this is why I do their films. And the bottom line is, when I was a newcomer, someone gave me a chance too.

A job in the television industry does not come with a guarantee. Your show might be axed, your character may get killed or you might be replaced.

I was always interested in designing - in fact, I styled my own look for my role in 'Kasauti Zindagi Kay' with the hood, bling and loose pants, which was novel back in 2006.

Actors can lose their jobs easily, so we need a back-up plan, an alternate business to fall back on.

Any job, whether it's your own or salaried, needs your personal attention.

It is always comfortable and easy to work with your life-partner because the chemistry is already there. You don't have to work towards it, whereas if you have to make an effort, then it can look artificial and forced on screen.

I'd beg to differ from the common perception that real-life soul mates don't make a good pair on camera.

It was love at first sight and luckily, neither of us had to propose as we both knew we wanted to stay together... Gauri is my whole world. She is my anchor.