Swara Bhaskar

I am a greedy, selfish actor, and for me, my role is important.

You have to look beyond your known limited experience. Politics should be based on compassion.

In India, we are parented in a way that we get very good values. But the whole culture forgets to tell us to also value ourselves. It's really OK sometimes to take into consideration your own happiness.

Remember that you have to be happy to make other people happy. Don't get weighed down by duty, guilt, and responsibility all the time.

I never saw myself as a character actor or a lead actor; I've only seen myself as just an actor.

Bollywood, as an industry, is based on relationships. It has always been star-driven, and it has an element of feudalism.

I've been propositioned by men who were in a position to cast me. I lost a few roles because I didn't give in.

Being unapologetic about my body, my sexuality, my life's decisions is a political belief that, as a feminist, I strongly espouse.

All my life I have faced this awkwardness, as I almost sound like a guy. In fact, whenever I would call my friends, their dads would say, 'Hold on son.'

Honestly, and seriously, I know I have to do a Telugu film. It was my grandmother's dream to see me in a Telugu film before she died. I couldn't fulfil her dream before she passed away, but I don't want to let go of it, either.

In India, thousands of people want to be in the movies because Bollywood plays such a huge role in our lives.

Bottom line is, off-beat film or commercial films, Tollywood or Bollywood, it's the role that matters to me.

I have become a little more cynical and, I would like to believe, a little wiser. When I first came to Mumbai, I was very idealistic. Now I can look anyone in the face and tell a lie. But I'm in a good place.

I love acting, though I don't like the frills around it - red-carpet appearances, dressing up to look a certain way.

I was once caught climbing out of the classroom window while bunking a class. I lied that I had to go to the bathroom and the exit was crowded. The principal believed me.

I am an extremely laidback person when it comes to 'looking hot.'

Lately, I have realised that as an actor, I am representing certain aspirations to the world, and it's important that I respect the love people have for me.

There have been instances when people have told me that I look too intelligent to be an actress.

As a student, I was a total jhalli who used to wear torn denims, faded kurtis, kohled eyes and thought that I was the coolest girl ever! We were a bunch of students who used to do social-issue-based street plays and believed that we could bring about a change in the world.

I feel that where I came from made me the actor that I am, and I wouldn't want to trade that with anything else.

I was an avid 'Chitrahaar' and 'Superhit Muqqabala' watcher. We did not have cable TV for a long time, so that was my only source of entertainment growing up. My great fantasy was to be in 'Chitrahaar!'

My parents are very democratic and liberal people who made the mistake of being democratic and liberal in the upbringing of their children! And in my case, they are still paying for it! Paying in the literal sense as well.

Mumbai is a spider web. You do a film and make 10 connections and do something else and make 10 more connections. You keep moving like that.

I'm an actor, and I don't judge my parts.

I'm a typical Delhi girl. Professional parents, nuclear family. My father was in the navy. I've spent my whole life in government accommodation, and it's been lovely.