Quotes from Kalki Koechlin

I improvise a lot and try something new every couple of years.

A film is a mirror image of our society. If there's something wrong with the way we make films or the way women are stereotyped, then it means that it's happening in real life.

When I have to be in public, I can't be in a bad mood.

I think beauty shows exteriorly what you are feeling inside; so if you are not in a great mood, it shows on your face a lot.

At home, my parents were quite old, so the surrounding was of elder people. There was no noise. Reading books was encouraged; TV was not encouraged, so I was the geeky, studious type of girl.

Once I wanted to get into films, I took my time about it because when I first got to Bombay, I gave my photos and CDs to all the production houses. But the roles that came my way were the 'typical white girl dancing in the background' kind of roles, which I was not too interested in, or it was advertisements.

If you want to have a nice laugh, then 'My Friend Pinto' is a movie to watch.

I love being unconventional because that's the reason I stand out.

The country has double standards - it's obsessed with fair skin on one hand, but if the woman is white, she is expected to be loose-moraled.

Even when you don't want, your clothes always speak for you. So fashion is definitely an important statement.

We can't let fear steer the way, dictate our lives.

Of course, people have tried to stereotype me... But it's very short-lived if you realise that you're only as new as your newest film... You have to look beyond the period of initial reactions and recognise that there's a bigger body of work and an effort to do something bigger.

Yes, India is intolerant towards women, at least when it comes to their safety issues. When I was shooting in Jharkhand, I was constantly being followed by two soldiers to ensure that I was safe. Women are so unsafe in our country.

There were a lot of pretty women in cinema around Audrey Hepburn's time, but she stood out because she had a very interesting personality - which went beyond her looks. She did so much for women, for animal rights, for children's education - it's always the personality that comes through and makes one seem beautiful.

I do not get that many offers in commercial cinema, to be very honest.

I like social media, as it cuts out the middleman. You can be yourself, you can't be misquoted, and it's also useful for me to get information about my theatre shows across to people.

I think you're stereotyped after every film. Post 'Dev D,' I was only offered bold roles. Similarly, after 'Margarita With A Straw,' I was offered roles where I had to play differently-abled people. So, no matter what type of film you work in, people tend to slot you.

My mum was quite strict, so I was in a very strict household.

I don't comment on everything; I don't comment on things I don't know enough about. I feel people should talk about something only if they feel strongly about them.

There's a thing about opinions... They are formulated over time. They tend to change with time, and you are going to change your mind many times.

You can't force people to change. You can only give them the option.

I love outdoor places in the evenings; I don't like box-like clubs.

There is always going to be depth and layers to people and that's what interests me in a character: when there is some problem to overcome, when there is a complication to understand in a person.

I think the glamour industry, all over the world, does portray a version that is 'Photoshopped' - a picture that is not very realistic.