Quotes from Sobhita Dhulipala

I'm not obsessed with the idea of fame or lots of money or social power. I can actually do want I want to do - I'm free - isn't that the greatest prize?

I learnt a hard fact: that dignity is a luxury in our country.

I want to try everything. I don't want to limit myself to anything. I want to discover as many characters as I can. I just want to explore.

Characters are an extension of your imagination.

I think most of my childhood, adolescence, and teenage years, I was struggling to feel validated - which led to a lot of my career choices as well.

Although I am a Telugu girl, I never felt that my debut in Telugu was delayed. I always wanted to be part of a good script, and I am pleased that 'Goodachari' hit the right notes.

I'm a protein enthusiast, as it forms the foundation of our nutrition.

I moved to Mumbai to pursue my degree after high school.

It is important to be clear about what you want and pursue that passionately.

As a full-time model, exciting opportunities came my way, and I was lucky to be featured in the Kingfisher Calendar 2014. This helped me get noticed, and I bagged assignments to walk the ramp for well-known Indian designers.

Acting made me realise this is me; this is what I always wanted to be. Even today, I am an awkward kid, and I feel most comfortable when I become a character before the camera.

I watch a lot of Malayalam films and admire them greatly. The films have such wonderful content.

Characters, like people, don't need to be right - only understood and, perhaps, accepted. We are all grey, lighter and darker, depending on our state of security.

In India, people tend to get categorised by their job or caste or colour. But in Kamathipura, despite their horrid living, it was truly eye-opening how kind and sensitive these women are.

It is certainly very thrilling to be given so much love and appreciation from the audience and critics.

If one wants to change the way things are, one has to take risks and be part of different kinds of cinema, despite not knowing how it will be received. That's what thrills me.

I am such a reclusive person that, literally, when I am done shooting, at some level I sort of disassociate myself, and I get back to reading my books.

I can't be selectively brave. I can't say something in the heat of the moment and then get scared when people raise their voice against my thoughts.

Winning the Miss India Earth 2013 title proved to be a stepping stone for a career in modelling and, eventually, films, though I didn't aspire to become either a model or an actress.

I look forward to playing characters where I want to play the ordinary, to be honest... Farmer's wife, tailor's daughter, the teacher characters that exist for real emotions.

My idea of a perfect breakfast would be French toast with sausages and tea.

Stories are told not to preach or counsel people but to reflect the dilemmas of our time.

I didn't grow up watching films, as I was more academically inclined.

I like reading and writing, and I am a trained classical dancer.