I see a lot of similarity between Bengali and Malayalam films regarding the basic emotions, the craftsmanship, art and performance. I also feel both the industries are very true to their art and culture.

Politics is a big no-no for me. I'm not a person who can go through that journey in life.

I believe my biggest critic is me only.

It's not that I won't do any horror movie. The script has to be good and also the execution has to be perfect to attract the viewers.

I have been to Goa before on innumerable occasions. I have shot at Fort Aguada in Goa too.

For an actor, who has done so many commercial movies, who has a large chunk of his fan following addressing him as 'guru,' it's not easy to opt for roles that strip one of the stardom.

When you are on the host's seat you have to synchronize with so many things.

It is challenging when you are dealing with people's emotions.

When I need to go to my bank, I'll do television.

I've learnt so much from Mithunda.

Mithunda is a great actor. He has done all kinds of roles simultaneously and that's no mean feat.

As an actor, I understand how difficult it is to simultaneously do diverse roles like Mithunda has done in 'Guru' and 'MLA Fatakeshto.' That's how much respect I have for him.

Atanu is one of my favourite directors. His script, style of storytelling and characterisation are always very different.

Working with Atanu again after 'Mayurakshi' is quite a challenge for me.

Every year, I have at least one Puja release, but 'Gumnaami' is really special for me. I have come out of my comfort zone for this film. I feel really fortunate to be a part of it.

I want to act in films such as 'My Left Foot' and 'A Beautiful Mind.'

I was barely 17 when our father decided to part ways with my mother.

There is a host of directors - Sujoy Ghosh, Neeraj Pandey, Ashutosh Gowariker, Madhur Bhandarkar, Mani Ratnam and so on - who make some great cinema. I would like to work with them all.

As children we had traveled only in cars and led a lavish lifestyle. After father and we parted ways, we had little money to afford even petrol; I used to travel to the Tollygunge studios in the south of the city from our Dumdum home in the north by bus. I would do any role that came my way: hero's friend, or brother, or son, just about anything.

Cinematically, anything like 'Khawto' in Bengali cinema hasn't happened. Yes, you get such films in Hollywood, a few in Bombay. In Bengali literature, you get such stories in the works of Samaresh Basu and Buddhadeb Guha.

Everyone has their own way of telling stories.

Everywhere I go today, people talk about Bengali cinema. I completely refuse to accept that Bengali filmmakers are not making good films.

With excessive digitisation, now, everyone is making films, which is good, but the makers think that they will quickly make films in digital and bag satellite rights but television channels buy satellite rights of notable films only. If we made fewer films a year, percentage of hits would be better.

When I started my career, I was faced with a challenge of making my own identity.

I am open to do a Telugu, Tamil or Malayali movie. If I get a good script and good character, I will surely do it.

I'm comfortable in my life.

There were times when 22 of my films would release in a year.

Ask anyone in the industry if Bumbada is accessible. A technical hand can call me at 2 A.M. and I will be there to help him.

Technology is a very important part of cinema.

I love KIFF. No one can stop me from being a part of it. I have always watched good movies there. Earlier on, that was the only space to watch good cinema.

I am a person who believes in giving due respect to everyone.

I came to know about my father joining BJP through the media.

We lack good film scriptwriters. People like Anjan Chowdhury who could develop scripts of pure entertainers are quite difficult to find now. There are obviously some exceptions like Padmanabha Dasgupta. But how many scripts can one single Padmanabha Dasgupta churn out!

Star Theatre in Shyambazar makes up a big chapter in my life. I worked there for three years during my struggling days.

Shyambazar evokes a strong sense of nostalgia in me. There's not a theatre in that area where I haven't watched a movie. I also have fond memories of going grocery-shopping at Grey Street with my grandparents.

A handsome period of my childhood was spent at our house in Tollygunge.

It is an honour to conduct a masterclass at IFFI.

When a director is remaking a film, he should tweak it, add Bengali sentiments to it and make it look like a regional movie. A copy-paste job is something I don't support at all.

Praktan' saw stupendous success in Bengal, can it not be remade in Hindi? It sure can.

I want to urge filmmakers in Bengal to choose a subject and mount the film in a way that there's a Bengali connect. They must not fall into the typical remake pattern.

To portray a singer who gets on stage at night, who is away from the limelight, is never an easy task.

All my life, Sundays have been a working day.

If get an off on a Sunday, I try to keep my script-readings, meet my directors, plan film releases.

I go to bed very late. I usually stay up till 2:30 A.M. but am up by seven in the morning.

If the entire product is good, then no matter what the language of the film is, people will love it.

Earlier, people used to say no to regional films, but now people all over the world have started watching Bengali cinema.

Sankhachil' did not have a script, to begin with. It was just a thought.

My audiences are giving me awards every day.

I watch all kinds of Indian cinema. There are many good films in Bengali, Marathi and Malayalam.

After 20 years and 250 mainstream films, I thought I should have in my library at least 50 films, films that will be talked about when I am no more.