Ayesha Takia

If I was written off and was not offered any work, I wouldn't care because I have lots of other things to do.

When I got married, a lot of people told me I was insane.

Being away from my film bubble gave me a chance to see life differently.

I'm fortunate to belong to a multi-cultural family... My mom's an Anglo Indian, dad's a Gujarati.

Item numbers are not for me.

A film is a film, and shouldn't be defined by language.

Socha Na Tha' was my first film and will remain one of my favourites.

When I came into this industry I set down some guidelines for myself. And I plan to stick to them.

The genre of romance is perhaps the closest to my heart and I like the whole idea of feel good, look good roles and films that have a positive vibe.

I simply love to believe in love stories. They are so cute and mushy.

It does get difficult to shift from a 'Wanted' to a 'Mod.'

I wouldn't say portraying a character in a film like 'Wanted' was easy. But it was fairly easier than playing a role where one is expected to emote more depth on screen.

I am bubbly in real life and people also say I talk too much.

I never thought I would be married at 23, but that's the fun thing about life - you don't know what is waiting for you at the next corner.

The challenge is always in portraying characters who've led a very different life from your's as you get to work on the character.

Till I did 'Dor,' people only offered me roles of that bubbly, vivacious girl.

Ever since school, I got a lot of attention as I was modelling and everyone knew who I was. As a child, you enjoy it. But one has to explore and doing things by oneself to learn that life is very large.

I am a hands-on mother and don't rely on maids.

Nagesh Kukunoor is my rakhi brother and a very good friend. He gave me 'Dor' which was an epic movie in my life. I owe it to him for such a good break.

I have enjoyed acting, but getting into production is hectic. I am not made for it.

I am the most chilled out, non-competitive and unambitious girl.

I always wanted to have my own restaurants even when I was acting.

I come from a middle-class family and I value money. This is something that attracted me to my boyfriend Farhan Azmi too. He is a self-made man and very level-headed.

I get irritated when people ask me if I have met a certain actor or I have bags worth lakhs in my wardrobe.

I am the kind to sit in front of the telly for hours. In fact, my parents and I are addicted to food shows. We can watch them endlessly. People who have seen us like, this call us a crazy family.

Being vegan is something that has changed my life tremendously.

I was raised in a normal Gujarati style with all the restrictions and reservations.

After 'Dor,' viewers showed the confidence that I could play serious roles too and so I was offered roles in films like 'Eight By Ten' and 'Wanted' and many other big movies.

A film like 'Dor' doesn't happen everyday.

I think it teaches you humility and love being a parent.

I don't even know what size-zero is.

Since I started working at 15 and never went to college, I didn't know what it was like to be in the real world. I was in my bubble - until I got married, my life was either in a car, on the set, or on location.

People who worry about stupid things, just end up looking miserable after a while - it shows.

I think the major changes in my body, face and skin have happened after I turned vegan, it has changed my entire life.

I want to do films that will be remembered, not run-of-the-mill stuff where I stand behind looking pretty as a picture.

Wanted' is a full-on masala entertainer. But it is not a mindless film.

I have been lucky to strike a balance between the off-beat and commercial films.

I am a terrible singer. At best I am a bathroom singer.

When you've done good work, you can't come back with something stupid.

If a friend like Nagesh wants to make something like 'Dor,' I would love to be a part of it.

Movies take lot of your time from making to promotions.

A film set is very casual. If there is a senior actor, by the end of it, you end up joking with him.

Being cute and bubbly is also fun, but I needed to be taken seriously as an actor and I think 'Dor' did that.

I don't want people to just see me as that cute girl in 'Dil Maange More' or 'Wanted.'

I am such a home body and I like to be home.

I've been blessed with the most awesome family life and I have a great support system.

When you are in a family where there are two or three people in the limelight - like politics and acting - two worlds colliding like that, there will be times when obviously in the press or public eye, those opinions can collide and not match.

You see so many actors branching out into so many different things than just acting. It's so fantastic.

Each actor is different and not everyone is looking for the same thing. For instance, I have never worried that people have to think of me in a certain way or have to accept me when I return to screen after a sabbatical.

I don't regret a single moment of staying away from the camera.