I have no qualms working on a quintessential Bollywood film, but I can't work on mindless no-brainers. I have too much self-respect for that.
— Shweta Tripathi
I am a very instinct-driven person.
Indian women usually tend to forget themselves once married.
Cannes is one of the biggest film festivals across the globe, and getting your film selected for a screening is quite a big achievement.
I want to do a project with the right intentions - not money or popularity or to be busy. I'm not even concerned about being 'out of sight, out of mind' because if that's the motivation, then I won't give my 110% to the work.
I am a fashion graduate, and I try to make a fashion statement which defines my individuality, as clothes are not just what you wear, but they also communicate.
Experimental or independent cinema is so exciting because it is about risk-taking, as there is no formula.
Publicity is very important for any actor, especially when you are new, and people need to know you.
As an actor, your whole body needs to be expressive, and unless you know the language, your expressions will not match the character you are playing. So, I am learning Tamil to the fullest.
I was a photographer. That's how I began my career, behind the camera.
A story and character are most important for me, not how I look, what clothes I wear, or what nail paint has been chosen for me.
When a role involves physical transformation, it helps build the character better.
I can't be an arm candy to the hero. I need to play characters that have layers, that people can relate to.
I will watch any film directed by Imtiaz Ali.
I shop a lot from the children's section and, sometimes, from the men's section. You'll find skirts, shirts and shoes from the children's section. My friends buy me more adult-like clothes, and I love those. But I cannot do away with the colourful stuff.
I love mid-length skirts, especially for the times when I've not waxed.
Acting is a psychological profession, and every character drains you emotionally, regardless of whether it is an intense art house movie or a light-hearted commercial series.
I always knew from books and shows that the lives of circus artists are not easy, but spending time and learning from them made me realise the amount of effort they put in and how they constantly jostle between life and death.
While growing up, I always wanted to see myself on the big screen - more so because there were no laptops then, and viewing on mobile was a far-fetched dream.
'Laakhon Mein Ek' is one of my favourite projects.
It's my dream to play Ratna Pathak Shah's daughter in a film.
I have had a simple life. I have amazing support from family, a great set of friends; financially and emotionally, I have been quite balanced.
Age is a very psychological thing; I do not know how old I am if you ask my age. Age is calculated by when you get born, but I do not agree with that parameter. I sometimes feel like 25, sometimes 12 and at times 40, and I love that about myself as an artist. I am not stuck to a particular age.
When you work with someone who is not insecure, that makes you confident.
I am happy that I am getting roles to prove my acting calibre.
I am also a voice over artist, so I always like to dub myself.
As I'm a complete water baby, being by the beach helps me relax.
Vanity is not important to me.
These new-age directors like Karthik Subbaraj are bringing about a change that I want to be a part of.
The movies I do have to be different in some way. Nothing vanilla will do.
I loved 'La La Land.' I would love to do a film like 'La La Land' which has so much simplicity and joy of cinema in it.
I don't care for brands. I'm more of a boutique shopper because the things I will find there are unique, and there won't be any copies.
A lot of people are shocked when they hear that I played a 14-year-old.
As an artist, when you make something, you want the world to see it in its totality, especially when the intention is not to titillate.
At first, I was worried sharing screen with an actor like Nawazuddin Siddiqui, because he is a remarkable actor and an outstanding person.
If you are not happy, you will never be able to give happiness to others.
I love being in front of the camera.
I am dying to share screen space with Richa Chadha. In 'Masaan,' we do not have a single scene together.
I am one of those who will not do anything and just sit at home if I don't like the work coming my way.
It does not matter to me how many dialogues I have in the film or the screen time. It is all about story and characters for me.
It's such a competitive industry. Your film and work make a huge difference, but the secondary thing... your appearance... what you wear and how you are looking are also important.
I want to be tagged as an actor and not as a star.
Be it television, theatre, or radio, I can work in any medium. I don't want to limit myself to just movies.
I definitely want people to believe that if I have signed a project, it will be good.
I was not aware of alopecia before 'Gone Kesh,' and when I heard the synopsis, read the script, I realized how ignorant we are about people's lifestyles and their issues.
Ultimately, if you act in mainstream movies, more people will come and watch your indie movies. That's how you reach the audience.
I would watch any film which has Ranbir Kapoor.
A lot of people think that, as a person, Nawazuddin Siddiqui is very serious. However, he is very funny and witty. Once he opens up with you, he can be the funniest person around.
Like most Dilliwalas, I'm an ace at bargaining. I have spent hours doing that at Janpath and Sarojini Market.
People often say that they want to move away to smaller cities for a better lifestyle and peace, but as a single girl, you need your society, your neighbour, and even passersby to give you some respect.
