Quotes About Hindi

Hindi film music has always been completely driven by the plot. We singers never had any say in compositions.

One day Mani Sir called me to his office and narrated the script of 'Raavan.' He then asked me how good my Hindi is. When I told him that it's quite good, he asked one of his assistant directors to talk to me in Hindi and I was asked only to reply in Hindi.

Two things happened - One, I was already in search of a positive role for a long time when I came across 'Shastri Sisters.' Two, I missed being a part of Hindi television.

I have been doing Bollywood movies for a while, but my fans back home are always with me. They support me irrespective of whether I am working in a Bengali or a Hindi movie.

I believe in cinema! Unfortunately, 90 per cent of Hindi cinema is non-cinema. Only marketing works here. Even the item songs in these films are an extension of marketing.

It was the '70s when mediocrity came in Hindi films. That's when the actor called Rajesh Khanna joined the industry. For all his success, I think Mr. Khanna was a very limited actor. In fact, he was a poor actor.

In 1963, when I joined Hindi film industry it raised many eyebrows.

Well, I am from an army background. My dad is in the Defence forces and I have travelled enough in the north to get my Hindi right.

Every love story or Hindi film has the same story, but what makes it different is the treatment it's given. Much depends on how it is stylised, how the characters are moulded, and how the story is treated.

I remember breaking the news to both my parents that I wanted to be a director, and they both looked very doubtful. They didn't know what a closet Hindi film buff I was. I used to dance to old Hindi films songs on the sly, so my decision to be a part of Hindi cinema was shocking even for my parents.

Hindi writing, as well as Hindi journalism, is a great gift to Indian writing.

Hindi journalism is too dogmatic. I often wonder how it can be modernised.

Hindi movies will never be liked by the critics, trust me. The main stream Hollywood film will not be liked by the critics.

I would love to be a coach, mentor, or a batting consultant. I would love to commentate in Hindi, as most people who watch the game are more comfortable with Hindi in India rather than English.

I like doing Marathi films. I am not too keen on Hindi TV shows. It's very tough to get Hindi films, but if a good script and role comes up in future, I will surely pick it up.

In fact, I learnt Hindi over a period of time after I started doing TV shows.

I would love to feel satisfied doing a Hindi film when there is no restriction of commerce, which is song and dance, item numbers.

For an actor, one doesn't have to be a dancer. But because our Hindi movies have so many song and dance sequences, it is preferred if they are good dancers. It's always advantageous to know dance. But if you don't, it's okay.

Hindi film songs lack poetry, and even musically, they aren't appealing at times. Their lyrical qualities aren't strong. I sometimes feel that singers aren't singing, but shouting out loud. Where's the melody?

The problem in South is we don't have access to much of Hindi cinema.

What attracts me to Hindi films is the monetary benefits connected with it.

I think of 'Beyond The Clouds' very fondly. Yes, it has not been seen by a lot of people in theatres. I had anticipated more people would watch it. But that has to do with something I don't know well: marketing. A lot of people didn't even know that it was a Hindi film.

Dancing like a typical Hindi film hero was a bit strange at first but I enjoyed it.

Asim has done English theatre with Naseeruddin Shah and his group, Hindi theatre with Makarand Deshpande, and Marathi theatre with me. He is a hardworking actor - I am not saying this just because he is my son but as an actor and spectator.