Akshaye Khanna

I barley read stuff about myself. Even when I see some article about myself in a paper or a magazine, nine out of 10 times, I skip it.

For me exercising has always been an important part of my life.

I've played the villain before, but my baddies have always entertained.

I don't know a single actor who is not picky.

It is essential for artistes to have that release of creativity, almost as necessary as eating food or drinking water.

When someone like me takes a sabbatical, it leads to a few happy realisations. It was only when I was away that I realised how films are such a big part of my life.

I have been working since I was 19.

I have found Delhi so much more beautiful than Mumbai. South and central Delhi, especially, are just so beautiful - the roads, the trees, the buildings, the history.

Of course, every city has its own character, but I enjoy coming to Delhi.

There needs to be a demarcation between personal and professional lives.

Losing a parent is always a terrible thing for anybody. It's no more or no less for me.

I haven't seen 'Himalay Putra' since the time it released. I can't say there is any special reason for not seeing it. But I don't watch my older films. It doesn't give me a kick.

Reading about myself on public platforms makes me uncomfortable. I don't like it. I read other people's interviews or articles, but when it comes to myself, if I see something about myself then I immediately turn over the page.

My 'aloneness' is extremely valuable to me.

I don't like to be always in the press, or on television or always be on seen. It is not how I like to lead my life.

Some of the biggest and most popular movie stars in the world are limited or have constantly done what they do really well. Being versatile is not necessarily the greatest quality for an actor.

In our Constitution, it is said that we have freedom of speech and freedom of expression. In my mind, unless that freedom is total, it is no freedom at all.

I can be in a beautiful, loving and caring relationship, but it can't be 24x7 and 30 days a month. At the end of the day, I need my time alone.

When I am not acting, I am in depression, and then I do depression management.

My work is my hobby and if I am not on the sets, I am at home with a bunch of very close friends.

I get very uncomfortable with negativity.

Even in my personal life, I can't bear to have bad feelings.

Call me boring, but I can't handle negative situations.

Being an actor, in my case, any failure or success is extremely visible to a whole nation of movie-watchers.

I was quite the Mr Popular both among the students and teachers in school.

Everybody, and that includes an actor, wants to go to work everyday. That said, it's better to sit at home than do a bad film. That can harm your career more than not having a release!

My private life's quite sad.

Casino Royale' was fabulous and I saw 'Bourne Identity' over and over again.

I'm not a writer. As for direction, I don't have the guts to do that. Still you can never say never.

Yup, I'm not good at selling myself, my PR skills are atrocious.

If you make an authentic political film, which talks of real people and real events, in a politically conscious country like India, it is but natural that people will react to it in different ways and there will be a collage of opinions.

There's only one barometer for the commercial success of a film and that's the box office. The obsession with box office doesn't annoy me. It's the main part of the business, if you get irritated with the main part then you're in trouble.

To have your films not liked or not watched or failed, is not an easy thing to handle.

My first film was a failure. I had many failures too. It's not easy dealing with it.

I am not comfortable, being in the limelight and I think that's fine. When I have to, I talk. Otherwise, I prefer not to.

I find it very difficult staying awake after 11.

Controversy is not necessarily a bad thing. It's a good thing at times.

Being single has its own advantages and it's a fun thing.

I was an average student, who took active interest in athletics.

All the top stars like Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh, etc. do very few films a year and I don't think it's affected their visibility or fan following in any way.

Whenever any person in the creative field does a film, they think it is going to be of good quality or this is something people will like. The intention is always positive.

As a creative person, you never embark on something thinking it will be substandard.

The audience determines whether they still want to watch you or not.

Every artiste's shelf life... is their destiny.

For me, it doesn't matter what kind of role I am doing. I just enjoy the process of acting and filmmaking.

I don't think I am doing any injustice to my fans by not being accessible socially.

I don't enjoy being on social media or at events.

I've never consciously chased a particular kind of a film or role. I choose from what is offered.

As an actor, one is constantly reading scripts and interacting with creative teams. Sometimes, things work and sometimes, they don't. It's never in an actor's hands.

I know I'm an oddball given that today 90 per cent of all human beings are extremely social, and I, for one, am a part of a profession which is not perceived to be for introverts, but I enjoy my personal space.