While growing up, I have had women around me, be it my mother or aunt, who have individually shown me how to be strong.
— Amyra Dastur
When I came back to Mumbai after boarding school, I was 16 and I picked up weight training and yoga. This is when I also started dance classes and Pilates and then I started doing different workouts every month. I am now proficient in kick boxing, gymnastics, classical dance as well as yoga.
You will not find me repeating a character or carrying similar mannerism in different films.
What aren't the pressures of being an actress? Don't get me wrong, I love my job. It has been my one and only dream but it's scary. There's a certain lifestyle and image one has to live up to or face the criticism which is quite harsh and cruel.
Getting that debut film is definitely harder than someone who has got a known last name. I mean some star kids don't even audition.
With platforms like Netflix, things are evolving as they are making content-driven films and series.
I want to do commercial films as well as off-beat movies.
I am not at all a romantic person, I hate flowers and candles... rather find it irritating.
I love my gymnastics and a flexible body, so I indulge in a lot of yoga from that aspect.
Family means a lot to me as I come from a big one myself.
Bascially, I want to do movies wherein even the girl's character actually has a part. If you want me to do glamorous roles, that's fine. But you have to make sure the character is good.
I'm glad I did South films because I feel they have moulded me. They are really loud and are in a different language, so it's not easy.
I am a family-oriented person.
Drink lots of water - at least 2 litres a day.
I strongly believe in 'if it catches my eye, it's something I'd buy.'
I was brutally bullied in school. I had short hair and buck teeth and kids would call out to me in the most nasty ways possible.
I have worked really hard to reach where I am - I worked hard on my Hindi and diction because I am a Parsi and Hindi is not my strong point, and I've also learnt Tamil and Telugu because I want to get my lines right. I want to be known as a performer.
When I first began learning yoga, I found it really hard because I couldn't clear my mind for the meditative part of it, but then after a few weeks it became easier and I could see how it began to change my body. I became more flexible and more relaxed and at peace with my environment. I love yoga and I encourage all my friends to practise it.
My mother quit her job in advertising in order to raise us and she really allowed and encouraged us to be ourselves.
The only thing that drives me is those different sort of roles which allow me to experiment.
If your first film does badly, there's no guarantee of the second film.
When I worked with Chinese crew for the first time, including production unit, spot boys etc, everyone was so affectionate, sweet and kind.
For me, it has always been about acting and I will do films which are content-driven.
I started modelling at the age of 16 and always aspired to be an actor. But my family only agreed to it on the condition that I would not let my studies suffer because of my work.
I eat whatever I want. I don't follow any diet. The reason I workout is so that I can eat. If it's a bikini shoot, of course you should not eat a pizza a day before. Otherwise I am not a dieting kind of a person. If I am hungry, I make sure I eat.
I am not really into mediation etc. but I am more interested in physical benefits of yoga. I love the fact that it helps me keep a control on my body and muscles.
I've always believed that staying healthy and fit have to do with keeping your body clean from the inside.
I love different exercises. If your body gets used to one particular type of exercise, it won't be good. I keep changing my exercise and that way, I have been fit.
Acting is about reacting, and it's not easy to do that when you don't have a good co-star.
I have had an actor squeeze himself up against me during a shot in a song and whisper in my ear that he was so glad that I was in the film with him. When I threw him off me and refused to speak to him again, he made my experience miserable.
Follow your heart. Make sure whatever you wear makes you feel sexy and confident.
If someone says anything mean to me I just kind of brush it off.
I've loved Lucknow for its feel, its people and the food.
Luckily for me, I get a lot of acting-oriented scripts.
I love fitness and I guess I could be called a fitness freak.
I am a rebellious North Indian girl and I was not sure if I would have said yes to a film like 'Rajma Chawal' if it would not be from South as it allows me to challenge myself.
From my early days in modelling to every new commitment, is like a first job for me every time.
Only you can take care of yourself and only you can push yourself to do better and work harder and make someone believe in your talent.
There is always a new experience on every set, a new mistake you make. It is a learning experience.
Good scripts are difficult to come by in the industry, especially if you are an outsider.
For me a great date will be going on jet skiing or other adventure sport.
Be it gym or yoga, I love it all. I start my day with it and it has to be at least for an hour and a half each morning. Even when I am holidaying, I stick to this regime.
Apart from films I've been shooting a lot of ads and signing on with a lot of brands as their primary endorser.
I never ever thought I would do an international project.
Yes, I do know Gymnastics, etc. I also do Yoga.
My family keeps me grounded.
I haven't faced a casting couch in the South or Bollywood. But yes, I have faced my share of harassment in both industries. I don't have the guts to name them because they are powerful people - men and women who made sure I felt helpless.
My life wouldn't end if there was no fashion. But being stylish has never hurt anyone either.
I have a younger brother, who's a year younger than me and we are thick as thieves.
I love anything that's mythical, and fantasy is one of my favourite genres.
