The combo of a great story and good director works for me.
I think 'Happy Days' was huge and an unexpected high point of my career. I was a newcomer at that time, and I was fortunate to get such a role in the film. 'Paiyya' was another highpoint, as it opened up Kollywood for me.
Your shoes and bags don't need to match always. It's perfect to be mismatched, too.
As far as the industries go, in the North, they think I'm a South Indian actress; down South, I've always been thought of as a Bombay girl. I guess it's sort of an identity crisis, even though I'd like to belong to all the industries.
I have changed a lot as a person coming into showbiz and meeting a cross section of people from all walks of life; it was an amazing experience. But that's the privilege I had of being early into showbiz.
As a kid, I wanted to be an actress, but ambition and reality are two different things.
My college life was brief because I started working for my debut film when I was in eleventh standard. But I have no regrets, as I stayed in touch with my friends who keep briefing me about the drama in the college. The opportunity to get into showbiz was so exciting that I couldn't let it pass by.
Humshakals totally exist. In fact, I was on one of these social networking websites, and I noticed that there is this entire research done on Hollywood celebrities who look like each other.
I think all of us have enemies in disguise, but there is nothing much you can do about that. You have to live with it. I just do my own thing and let the enemies be.
Making a mark becomes more challenging when you are a part of a multi-starrer. But I like that.
Even if one is not a great actor, just being in front of the camera requires a lot of effort.
It was never a conscious decision to stay away from Telugu cinema.
I say yes to a film depending on who is directing it.
Despite a good subject if the director is not up to the mark, the execution can go wrong.
I'm not a hit machine.
Sometimes, films that you do with a lot of care and look good at the time of signing may not work out for some reason or other.
While it feels good to be compared to someone like Sridevi, it's also a lot of pressure.
People love talking about how much an actor makes. A lot of headline space is dedicated to this.
Yes, I charge a certain remuneration fee, and yes, producers do pay me that sum. But if I didn't deserve it, why would somebody pay me an exorbitant amount?
Every actor, male or female, is paid what he or she is worth. There is no inflated sum or underpaying in the industry.
In South, the actresses are expected to be fuller, unlike Bollywood. The sensibilities are totally different.
I have seen actresses avoiding food out of fear that beauty would be lost.
I am a gourmet. I cannot stay away from my favorite dishes.
I like Hyderabad Biriyani, and when I go to Hyderabad, I have biriyani without fail in the hotels.
I am indeed fortunate to work with some reputed directors like Balaji Sakthivel, Sekhar Kammula, and KV Anand sir. Each one of them has a different style, and every day is a learning experience for me.
I don't want to sign four films at a time, as acting is an art, and art cannot be done without honesty.
I think glamour is a perception, and I am not against it.
I can't titillate the audience just for the sake of doing it.
I don't appreciate people who discriminate on the basis of colour.
I was born on the fairer side, but I've always been fascinated by dusky and dark tones. So, when the makers of my films asked me to go a few shades darker, I didn't think twice. I am not doing anything extraordinary, but I want to break cinematic notions about outwardly appearances.
I feel that to a great extent, the industry is fixated with fair skin, and that needs to change.
It's high time the film industry stopped treating fair skin as a parameter of beauty. You could be the fairest of them all, but if you have a wicked soul, you aren't beautiful at all. So, skin colour doesn't define a person's beauty.
My personal dressing is inspired by my mood and mindset. I can jump from a girl-next-door to runway queen. I'm a T-shirt-and-jeans kind of a woman. But I also enjoy the red carpet look.
With technology, everything is available at the touch of a button. But I'm not someone whose world revolves around trends. I like to be unique in whatever I do.
Treat your skin with natural homemade stuff that gives it respite from chemicals.
While I am a teetotaller in real life, I would hate to pass any judgments on what actresses should do or not do.
As an actress, all I can do is choose from the films I am offered.
I cannot do more than two films at a time. I like to have a life besides films. That is very important to me.
I am pleased about making a comeback in Bollywood, but then I really cannot think about leaving South Indian cinema. Whatever I am today is because of South films, and I cannot give up on that.
I always wanted to become an actress.
For me, films have always meant entertainment.
I don't want to act in a preachy movie just because that is more sensible. I don't watch that kind of cinema.
For me, watching a movie is an experience where I can go, eat popcorn, and enjoy with my friends and family. I want to be a part of cinema that entertains people.
I enjoy writing.
I can get anyone to dance.
I'm a die-hard foodie; I'm the girl next door post pack-up, and my best friends aren't from the industry.
'100% Love' is not just a film I did; it actually changed me. The film made me confident.
Baahubali... ' has been accepted widely amongst Hindi cinema-goers. So this shows that language is becoming less important.
Audiences want to watch good films, even if it is dubbed in another language.
The audience is expecting good work from me. They want me to do roles that are unique and important in the story. So, I am trying to focus on different characters to play. I am doing the kind of films which are completely different from each other.