Quotes from Anubhav Sinha

I am afraid of things which scare me. I am afraid of heights and too much love.

I'm a workaholic and there is no other engagement in my life.

I get scared of such love where people come out of the theatre and say, 'This is the best work of Anubav Sinha till date.' I feel the pressure and wonder what will I do next.

As a filmmaker, if your personality is not reflected in your movies, then what are you doing, why are you making films?

We live in a world where corporates are trying to prove that water is a commodity. The economics of this world is inclined towards creating a divide between rich and poor, and religion is the most convenient tool.

In 2001 when 'Tum Bin' released we got 90 to 100 screens. India had around 1000 screens at that time.

When my second film 'Dus' released, I was still getting compliments for 'Tum Bin' because it was a hit on satellite channels.

See, governments are overrated. They come and go in 5 or 10 years; it is we who have the power. But we are like Hanuman in 'Ramayan,' who needed to be reminded of his power.

I have a beautiful sofa, which is my writing corner, on which I sit every day and look outside the window.

Bob Dylan's 'Blowin' In the Wind' was written into the script of 'Article 15.' It was the only song I wanted in my film. It encapsulates the spirit of exploration and salvation that my hero Ayushmann Khurrana goes through. I love the song's lyrics, especially 'How many roads must a man walk down before you call him a man? '

As a filmmaker I have changed, yes. I seem to have crossed a line and that journey, trajectory change is more apparent. I'd say, what changed dramatically in me as a filmmaker is the fact that now, it is about why am I making the film, what is this supposed to mean to people. Earlier, it was more about entertaining or engaging them.

'Article 15' is an investigative drama where the audience too is an accused party.

What we need to do is open our eyes, smell the coffee and just understand what the society has become. Today, I can discuss many things with my 15-year-old son which I could not talk about with my father.

When I hear of nationalism in my country today from the youngsters, I want to sit them down and tell them that flags and songs are not nationalism. Stopping at the traffic signal, opening the door for a lady, doing something for your country is nationalism.

I come from a small town, so there we have this habit of talking to rickshawallahs while you are making a trip. So when I moved to Bombay, people found it strange that I do that.

In daily life, there are times when people are happy to talk about problems, but when the society is troubled by something, there is never a larger platform for discussion. Bollywood is religion in our country and that is the best place where you can place those questions on the table.

I think I was always this person. If you see my early work, my first TV show called 'Shikast' and a lot of 'Sea Hawks.' I think I was dealing with a misplaced definition of success.

In Mumbai, you get good international food but there are few restaurants that serve good Indian cuisine.

In Delhi, I got a chance to assist someone on a documentary film. Then I moved to Mumbai. This was before the satellite TV. One had to assist a director for years before being able to direct a movie.

I grew up in Varanasi where there would be a communal riot every other week. Then I moved to Aligarh, where the Muslims made me feel completely at home. They never made me feel different, so when did this business of 'them' and 'us' start?

Banaras is a mystical city. It is not easy to know that city well.

Just because 'Mulk' addresses some uncomfortable truths, trolls are having a field day. They say that the film has been funded by Dawood because that's the easiest way to malign it. But I am not affected by such nonsense.

Cinema halls aren't just about movie watching. It's like watching a live match in a stadium with the crowd where you collectively share moments of joy and sorrow.

No movie can change society, but there are things that can be achieved by a film. For example, we are sitting in a room that has a lizard in it but we don't mention it because it is not bothering us. But if I stand up and say there is a lizard in the room, then we will try to deal with it - in whatever way.