Quotes from Sayani Gupta

I have been brought up around art. Even now, when I travel, I love going to museums and spend hours in front of paintings. Art is like oxygen for me. That's what I miss in Bombay.

I heard Hindi film songs only on Chitrahaar, when my next door neighbour would increase the volume of her TV.

I would love to act in Bengali movies, but the work culture here is pathetic.

The only thing redeeming about my being born a Bengali is being brought up reading Rabindranath and Saratchandra. Other than that, the stagnancy of this city put me off all along.

I only would say yes to a film, do a film or any project, if I think I would watch it. Whether the audience will like it, not like it, how will they take to the film, these are not things in your control and you shouldn't bother about them.

I skip breakfast. I haven't yet figured out what's the best breakfast that doesn't give me acidity. I drink warm water in the mornings with amla juice and triphala juice.

I've seen and always been extremely aware of racism... casual racism, serious racism... all of that.

I've always been interested in why do people behave in certain ways which are crazy from a normal point of view.

I do many commercials. All of them are interesting in their own ways.

I believe in eating everything and love my rice and sweets. And eating it without guilt and worry... I feel that's the best way to digest food. I don't ever do a rigorous dieting normally.

A country can develop only when you ensure these basic rights, let them voice their opinion and give them basic education, hygiene, medication, portable water and when you empower that is true development.

I can never do something that I am not 100 per cent convinced about.

I abhor badly-written characters and any character, be it man, woman, any character in the film. If it is a well-written character, it will come across as strong.

While in college, we used to go for art exhibitions, theatre shows and music concerts. I have spent a lot of time around Mandi House. At that time, Bharangam Theatre Fest used to be a big thing, and it was a total delight watching plays and performing at the fest.

I know how a Manipuri is different from a Mizo or someone from Shillong. It's culturally very different... the food is also very different, and so is the language and dialect.

When I came to Mumbai eight years ago, I had a realistic approach. I was sure that nobody will give me work... And I was also very choosy about wheat kind of work I did.

My priority as an actor is just to be doing different kinds of roles. I say no to anything I have done before.

One of the most difficult things I find as an actor is to laugh on cue. It is way harder than crying or other emotions. It's sometimes harder than yawning on cue.

I, for one, believe TV is something you can do without - it colours the way you look at things and people. It's not the best exposure for children, growing up.

Four More Shots' Please wanted to show a bunch of women who have agency, are fierce but not apologetic about their life.

I am terribly lazy . So, if I don't have to get out of the house, I will sleep away the entire day.

My mum knew if I got out of Kolkata, I wouldn't return. So she made me sit for the entrance of St Xavier's. But once I set foot in Delhi, there was no returning.

Thanks to my Bengali genes I look very young.

As an artist, there are times when you need to take a leap of faith... For me, it's important that the gaze is correct.