Prior to joining NSD, I was briefly associated with a small theater group in Delhi called Sakshi. Saurabh Shukla, Manoj Bapayee were my seniors in that group. I performed a few supporting roles in Sakshi plays.

When I had no money, I would find out which friend had work and money at that point in time and would go and stay with him for a week. All of us theatre guys did that.

There was electricity in our village only for 2-3 hours a day, so all my life, I studied under a lamp.

I am from a family of farmers from Budhana near Muzaffarnagar.

I don't want my work to be heavy. The challenge is to make it interesting and engaging, keeping in mind the need for method acting. This is what I have learnt from Bharat Muni's 'Natya Shastra' and from the Russian theatre legend Stanislavsky.

'Haraamkhor' is a low budget film. We are not worried about the box office because our film is already in profit. It's got a strong content that will reach people's heart.

My experience has offered me the sensibility that encourages me to try newer characters.

I was introduced to cinema by C-grade films that played in my village, Budhana, in UP. Only films by Dada Kondke, Mahendra Sandhu, and Kanti Shah were available.

If I am comfortable with my co-star, then that always shows in my performances.

My character should not be ordinary, cliched, and if I feel that it's difficult to do this character, I take up that challenge to get into his character.

I won't give the credit to 'good fortune.' Whatever I have achieved is because of my hard work and passion.

One should go to the line through the character. You should see their lifestyle in the way they speak.

In my head, I believed even though I am an actor, there was no need to dance. That's not me.

I would be happy if people just called me an actor.

For me, as an actor, there is no commercial or independent or art cinema. For me, it's a character that is given by the director. And it is a task for me that I have to fulfill it to the best of my ability regardless of the kind of film that it is.

If one line about the film excites me, I try to take it forward.

Coming from a small town, I didn't have big dreams. My biggest ambition was to find a job for myself.

I have seen people climbing up and down the ladder of success, and I learnt a lot from them.

You will never see me dancing around the trees, chasing a heroine; I will never do films, no matter what the budget, for the heck of it.

As far as Raman Raghav is concerned, he is ruthless.

I am very confident about my work because I have worked very hard.

I decided to be a part of 'Bajrangi'... because I felt that it tells a very relevant story.

I have fallen in love so many times. If one relationship ended, I would search for another girl. I was always madly in love with all the girls that I dated.

Kabir Khan is a director who goes out of his way to make his actors comfortable. He's very chilled out. He makes the environment on set very casual and friendly.

Kabir Khan is that rare director who manages to merge Bollywood formula with a good story.

I knew I would get offers to play the villain after 'Kick,' and I had already decided to reject all of them.

I don't want to take names, but there are some people who get everything served on a platter. This is a movie, this is your role, and you have to do it. Some people have to strive so hard to reach where they have and want to.

Before 'Raman Raghav 2.0,' I played a criminal in 'Badlapur.' Though the character was innocent, he was not correctly interpreted by some sections of the audience.

Even though I hated doing farming and wanted to just get out of the village, I would work from 5 in the morning till 5 in the evening.

It's very difficult switching over from one character to another.

'Freaky Ali' may look like an easy role to others, but it is not easy.

I still can't believe it when people say I am a celebrity.

Being a recognised face has its problems. I miss the freedom to go anywhere I want to.

I interact with journalists all the time, and I note how they behave.

The success of 'Kick' will help in the marketing of other small budget independent films I have acted in.

A big blockbuster like 'Kick' expands the audience for my films and makes it easier to promote them.

'Ali' is the story of a lower middle-class golfer who becomes a champion. I find the game very interesting and would like to continue playing it regularly after the movie is wrapped up.

I think there is no racism in this film industry. They are only in need of talent, though it takes time; but, if you are talented, you will get your due. I am thankful to be part of this industry.

Love stories should be relatable.

At first, I was hesitant when it came to giving autographs, thinking that I am not even worth giving one. But slowly I got over that phase.

I don't believe in the 100 crore club.

I feel happy that I am being honoured for doing films of my own liking.

After graduating from National School of Drama, I started doing theatre in Delhi. But there was not much money in Hindi theatre.

I have seen many teachers in real life, which come from the same background and morality and treat their profession like just another one rather than a noble profession.

Like the way we get to know about the society of Korea, Iran, and other countries through their films, people will get to know about our country. Our films are a mirror of our society.

I used to clean the sets and serve tea to the artistes.

Bollywood has always pampered heroes and treated actors as second class citizens. But, of late, it has realised that there has to be space for actors who can connect with people.

There are thousands of ways to make people laugh - satire, black comedy, slapstick.

The village I come from is the most ruthless, lawless land one can encounter.

It's not necessary that every film has to hit Rs 100 crore box office, or the Rs 50 crore budget. If the film makes double of its project budget, we consider that a hit, and that also means that the film is in profit.