Quotes from Rohini Hattangadi

I knew that I wanted to be in parallel cinema and do meaningful films.

I have a sense of humor and enjoyed playing the role of Daku-amma in the serial 'Gunwale Dulhaniya le Jayenge.'

If you are really passionate about something you can even wait for 10 years. Look at Nawazuddin Siddiqui for instance. He waited for 20 years!

The magnitude of the film and the life of Gandhi had not yet sunk in then as it is now when I look back.

When I came into the movies, I was 27 years. I had the choice of playing the mother or sister. I chose mother.

Every citizen is responsible for the society in which we are living.

'Karmyudh' is the story of a young, dynamic politician named Yashwant Chauhan and his police officer wife Shivangi. They love each other but have different ideologies. I play the role of Yashwant's mother who supports her children in times of need and stands by truth.

As an artiste, I made sure that the character sketch and look of each mother I played was different.

'Sukhi Mansacha Sadara' is a very simple, clean series and we all will experience the positive energy created by this simple subject.

The detailing on the sets of 'Gandhi' was very minute. There was immense discipline and nothing was taken for granted.

Since I had gone to a Marathi-language school, I had to take elocution classes as preparation for my part as Kasturba.

The script was focused on how Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi turned into the Mahatma. There was no room for many others who mattered in the making of India. There was no space for Subhas Chandra Bose or Rajaji that an Indian director might have been pressured to include. This process of elimination was necessary.

We have a group also on WhatsApp with our 'Char Divas Sasuche' team. I never realized that it ran for 13 years but the credit goes to the production house, the crew, and cast. People get bored easily with normal saas-bahu serials but it didn't happen to us.

Sometimes overwork and travel take a toll on my health but I am alert and take precautions; I have learnt to deal with it. I take rest whenever I have time.

I am playing the character of a grandmother in 'Doctor Don' which is completely different from my previous roles. My character is dashing, carefree and has a bindaas mindset. She loves to live her life happily.

A.K. Hangal's work is a big contribution to serious theatre. To stick to it despite the attractions of commercial cinema is proof of his dedication.

I give away myself in my work so that I can never feel the tiredness. If you ask about my energy, you see I am doing my favorite thing and I forget the rest. That is the only truth.

The director could start shooting the fifth scene first. So while giving take for the scene I need to know what I am expected to do in the first four scenes. Sometimes it gets quite confusing and on television you never know when the channel will change the story or dump the character!

Theatre is my first love, simply because I started out with theatre.

I never had to carry a wig from one set to another.

Before entering into small screen or even films, every actor should do theatre first, as it is the best teacher of acting in its true sense.

I have played queens on screen in the past.

I knew Gandhi only as a freedom fighter. It is only after reading his autobiography that I realized what a man he was.

I was trained in theatre so the seriousness was there. I never went in for the glamour.