Every one wants to play a lead, be it negative or positive and I'm no exception.

As soon as the director says action, an actor has to do the same work no matter if the screen is small or big.

One should approach life with a realisation that nothing is permanent.

Who doesn't want to be a lead hero?

The time I heard the script for Hathiram's character in 'Paatal Lok,' I was sure it is one of the best characters that I had ever been offered. I am extremely overwhelmed with the kind of responses that I am getting for the performance.

In the time you make one series of 9-10 episodes, you can make 3 films.

Pataal Lok' explores the depths of human and societal immorality through a captivating storyline and exemplary talents.

They say, you don't get anything before time and more than fate. I truly believe that and have never felt the need to fight it out, to say 'why this didn't happen earlier.'

More than good co-actors, if you have understanding co-actors, it becomes easier to relate with them. Many actors become insecure and get personal, which is not right.

I love Sanjeev Kumar's cop portion in 'Sholay.' Manoj Bajpayee in 'Shool' was also amazing.

Acting is just part of my life. It is not my life. Whatever time I invest in acting I give my 100 per cent. But there are other things which are also important and I like to give equal attention to them.

When you stop searching, wanting and wishing things - only then they start appearing.

As an actor, it filled me with joy that 'Raazi' was well-received and it gave me an identity and improved me as an actor. It was Meghna Gulzar's guidance that brought out the best in me. She is a receptive filmmaker who knows the art of extracting a performance.

I come from a family of educationists and both my parents as well as my younger brother and his wife are teachers.

I have known Abhishek Banerjee for a long time. There have been a lot of films in the past where we were rejected together. We have seen each other's journey. He is an amazing actor.

FTII had people from all over India and abroad and they had a different mindset. They would talk about world cinema and there I was - the only foreign films I had watched were probably Arnold Schwarzenegger's and dubbed in Hindi at that!

Unlike star kids, we do not have the liberty to do anything and be famous.

Ups and downs are part of life. One has to try out his best and march ahead.

While Anurag Kashyap is a very chilled out guy and let his actors pitch in with their ideas, Kamal Haasan is an encyclopedia in himself. Merely listening to him enriches one so much.

When you come from FTII, people take you seriously. The environment at the institute is very conducive to learning.

If tomorrow someone writes a romantic story, I'd like to bring a romantic shade of mine too. When someone puts that trust in you then you can do it.

When the coronavirus-positive cases were 500 in the country, you ordered the shops to shut down, and now when the tally has crossed 50,000 you are opening them. I don't understand the logic.

More than being a star, I want to be an actor. This may sound cliched but that is how it is.

You have to play your part as an actor at the end of the day, regardless of the medium.