Having born and brought up in Mumbai, I am as urban as urban can be, but my parents ensured that my sister and I understand social responsibility as well.
— Bhumi Pednekar
After 'Dum Laga Ke Haisha,' I didn't know which way my life will head because my debut was with a very unconventional role.
I am a modern day girl, and of course I have dated many guys.
Don't be lazy; workout and diet is the only way to get fit.
I don't have a problem with being overweight. That's fine. But there's a thin line between being unhealthy and overweight.
Hummus has been my saviour. I've used it in every form: on sandwiches, rotis, with veggies and meat.
I get very excited when I get a chance to work with actors who are as passionate as I am.
I love being an actor so much because, as a person, I would be conscious about pimples and weight because I love vanity, and I own up to it. I have been like that since I was a child, but where my characters are concerned, they are such confident women that I love celebrating my flaws on screen.
As a girl, the thought of gaining weight wasn't easy, but when I thought as an actor, I was very sure. That gave me the confidence, and I started training myself to gain weight, and then, as planned, I lost weight.
I think an actor without life experiences is empty.
I want to be a part of films that will be watched even after twenty years.
Alankrita is such a crazy filmmaker, and I loved 'Lipstick Under My Burkha.'
My parents always told me that we won't get you married until you are independent. Women have always been celebrated in my house.
I told my mother I wanted to be an actress, and the next thing I know is that I'm studying in a very expensive film school.
I've always been an overweight girl, and I've never had an issue with that. I'm very comfortable with my body.
I have always had a flair for acting; maybe that's why I enjoyed casting so much.
I stand for body confidence and against fat shaming, but I will not support people who live on bad cholesterol.
Even as a teenager, my sensibility was different because my parents introduced me to some amazing films. I grew up watching films like 'Kabuliwala,' 'Casablanca,' and 'Mandi.'
I am not against being in a relationship, and neither is the case that I want to be in one. I just go with the flow.
I'm very content with my work, and I never complain.
If you don't want to hit the gym, go cycling or skipping.
Acting, for me, is a process of metamorphosis. It's about forgetting who I am and becoming someone entirely new.
When I was overweight, my back hurt, and my ankles would swell up. It wasn't the weight itself but the problems it brought along that bothered me.
I'm not skinny, and I like that.
I feel, as an actor, you should be in a position to mould yourself into different characters and should have the ability to change.
Actors don't make a project; a project makes the actors.
I was 12 when I decided that I wanted to see myself on the big screen.
'Sonchiriya' speaks of the consequences of societal bias and the bloody consequences of revenge when human lives become casualty.
I feel that a heroine or a leading character is someone who stays back with you, and I would like to believe that all my characters have stayed with people.
It's my biggest fear that one day I'm going to trip on stage.
I have realised what my pitch is, and I'm in this industry for the pure reason that I love acting.
I'm a very big Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan fan. I've grown up seeing them, and they're larger-than-life in the true sense for me.
Just because I am an opinionated and strong girl doesn't mean that I don't believe in vanity.
I love wearing heels.
If you mingle with real people, only then your craft can improve. I spend most of my time outside the vanity van, speaking to people. You never know what you can pick from a person.
I'm friends with all my exes, as they were all friends.
I am a shopaholic, like to wear make-up, and believe in vanity.
I believe a good chicken breast, if made well, is the best thing ever.
Post-workout, I eat a protein-rich snack, like egg whites or chana, chicken, fish with some greens.
Yes, I am a very greedy actor. I love acting, and I want to do all kinds of roles.
I think people want to watch me in films, and that's why filmmakers want to work with me and tell stories.
I have been fortunate to be around people that don't believe in misogyny at the workplace or in my family. But of course, it does exist.
I have had a very comfortable and beautiful life.
I want to be a part of films that have some kind of social comment and that will help people evolve.
When I go to sleep, I want to know that I have experimented as an actor, and I am constantly seeking to evolve.
I remember the first time I held a rifle - the metal was so cold, and it's so heavy. I also didn't know the amount of pressure I had to use. My first finger went numb for a week.
I work out four hours a day - I do a lot of swimming, dancing, and gymming.
I have a strong personality - I know who I'm outside my work, and I'm nothing like the characters I portray.
I just want to work with talented people and learn from them.
I take two hours to get ready. I believe in the power of make-up.
