Quotes from Anupam Kher

I am aware that as an actor, I can blame others for the failure of a film, the director, the script, choice of co-stars, timing of the release and so on. But now, as the director, I will have to shoulder all the blame.

As for my stand, I think it has become difficult in our country to be a Hindu and a liberal at the same time.

I think in my mother tongue. That's Hindi.

One time I nearly experienced failure was when I was acting in 'Hum Aapke Hain Kaun' in 1994. One day, I woke up and found that part of my face was paralysed.

My first Hindi film as a leading man was Mahesh Bhatt's 'Saaransh,' which immediately established me as someone who knows the craft.

I started doing motivational tours. I've seen all kinds of people, from the CEOs to the lowest executive, opening up to their fears. We don't introspect as much as we should.

In day-to-day life, our brain sends lots of signals. In acting, there are no signals. You have to believe in what you are trying to portray.

'Silver Linings' has proved a golden opportunity for me.

It's important for couples to be friends first and to respect each other as individuals.

You are never too old for applause. What's satisfying is that I'm being appreciated for what I was trained for.

I've done 480-odd films, have my own acting school, won awards, etc. and now host a successful TV chat show - what else can I ask for? Yes, of course, every journey has its ups and downs, but that's part of life.

I know that some of the characters I played were trash. But then, I chose to take up those roles, as I enjoyed doing them.

I think if you laugh at your troubles and tell the whole world what went wrong, you can't be frightened by anything.

Harper Collins gave me a letter of intent saying that they want me to pen down my autobiography. When I was recollecting the incidents of my life for that, I selected only those incidents which were turning points in my life. I staged it instead of writing it.

There are many brilliant actors, including our own Dilip Kumar, but Robert de Niro is something else.

I approach every role with the same commitment because I'm being paid for it. To not do so would be unethical.

When I staged the play and narrated my story to the audience, people found it amazing that after facing so many hardships, I have gone on to do 482 films.

I cannot take away the fact I am a small-town boy from India, from a lower-middle class family, and was actually standing in front of De Niro - not on an equal level, but as an actor, on the same pedestal.

Every time I've crossed to a new level of film acting, the film has been a breakthrough project.

If my life can inspire people, then a television show where guests talk about their challenges and what makes them unique would work.

We only see the glamour side of stars but not how they've achieved it.

I had spent many days hungry; had slept on railway stations at times because I did not have money to pay for a hotel room... there were moments when I felt I had compromised my dignity as a human being and as an actor.

Birthdays are meant for special occasions.

Our cinema has evolved in last 60 years because we have made people happy through our films. The main purpose of our storyline is to spread happiness. Our cinema has an emotional connect.