Earlier Bollywood was a fly-by kind of business which few wished to be involved in. Now Bollywood is good business and everybody wants to be associated with films. This is definitely a very significant change that I have seen in Bollywood.
— Sharmila Tagore
You cannot force anybody to honour somebody. You can only ask.
Being here and receiving appreciation from the people here in Nantes has a special appeal. But I do believe I have worked hard for it. Very hard.
My life changed when I was introduced to Satyajit Ray. It was acting for me thereafter.
I find I am growing fonder of gardening, listening to music and reading.
There's a cultural difference between India and the rest of the world.
Being a Bengali, I have kept in touch with the cinema of my mother tongue.
My son Saif is an avid reader. He points me to books worth reading. I also must do the Indian Express crossword every morning, which is not too difficult and yet not too easy either.
I get attracted to projects because of the script or the idea and the basic character.
We've always had very strong women in my family.
There's nothing like young children's energy... They are always curious, and enthusiastic about many different things.
I felt so much closer to my mother after I had babies. It bonds a mother and daughter more.
Well, a daughter is someone you've grown up with, right? So you know her temperament, you know what makes her angry and how to deal with that person. You're meeting your daughter-in-law when she is an adult already and you don't quite know what her temperament is like, so it takes time to gel.
I was very close to Mani Rabadi. She not only designed my clothes in some of my films, she was also a personal friend and guide when I was new to Mumbai.
If films could run because of performances, everybody's films would do well. It is the director who makes the film.
I still remember the day I had met Bijoya Boudi during the making of 'Apur Sansar.' The earliest memories I have of her are she doing up my hair and helping me to tie the sari. There are so many days when she would dress me up for the shoot.
I know that we have to get in there and do something if we want to change the system and get a better government. But the whole task is very daunting. If I join either the Congress or the BJP, I will be forced to follow their systems and then I may not be able to do anything significant to change things.
People judge us looking from the outside. They don't really know what is going on in my life. There are hundreds of perspectives out there. I cannot live up to all the expectations.
When you come to the set, and are aware of the limitations of the script or the director, don't expect the pigs to fly.
There are more and more adult subjects with explicit language or explicit scenes... Yes, I feel there should be a category for such films so that instead of cutting it, censoring it or deleting a few scenes we can show it in its entirety.
Every age bracket has to be respected and it should be embraced naturally.
I travel quite a bit.
It's really rewarding working with young people.
I do practice active gratitude. In my thoughts, actions words I am deeply grateful for what life has given me.
In my time, Mother's Day wasn't celebrated the way it is now. In fact, there used to be no Mother's Day for a long time.
I think it's quite a big decision for women to have children. In our time, I don't think we thought so much about it. We just went and had them and of course, life is not fun-filled and not complete if you don't have them. It's a wonderful thing when you think about it.
Aradhana' was a very big hit while 'Avishkaar' is a cult film.
You are who you are, why should you deny your past?
I like to contribute as much as possible to some of the NGOs that I know and in the areas that I like to contribute to. These include primary health, primary education, children's issues and AIDS.
Satyajit Ray has played a very major part in my career. He was the one who gave me the launch platform when he selected me for his 'Apur Sansar.'
Human relationships can get awfully demanding and unpredictable. One day you feel one way, the next day you feel something else. That affects relationships. It's better to spend time with yourself doing the things that you enjoy.
When you are doing a film for money or to help a friend out, be clear about the motives and then finish what needs to be done.
Besides having lived and worked in Maharashtra for several years, working in a Marathi film was quite a challenge.
One has to do everything at the right time. That includes motherhood.
My first mother's role was in 'Aradhana.' But after that in mid to late 1980s, I was being offered more roles of mothers.
Obviously you do not want to upstage. Some people work like that. But I have never been that upstaging kind. I wouldn't want to upset anyone.
I don't think I was pregnant during 'Aradhana.' But yes, during 'Safar' and 'Choti Bahu' I was pregnant and quite unwell in the last phase of my pregnancy. Then during 'Besharam' I was pregnant with Sabaa.
I remember when Saif was a baby, the pediatrician had recommended that we give him orange juice to drink, but my mother said he was too small to be able to digest it and that I should dilute it with some water. I didn't listen and Saif had a tummy-ache. I guess mothers do sometimes know best and it's also the experience that counts.
I am a Bengali, I like my rice.
I worked with three designers in my heydays - Bhanu Aathiya, Shalini Shah and Mani Rabadi. Out of these, Mani was the least assertive and aggressive. I remember Bhanu used to be quite insistent and particular about her fees etc whereas Mani was too soft-spoken.
