Dhanush is an insanely incredible actor. To be directed by him has been nothing short of a learning experience.

For me, love is magic; it's about trust and understanding. It's putting the other person before you effortlessly.

I don't really understand why we are paid less than the male actors, because we put equal efforts, and recent past has shown that actresses can deliver a hit film. We deserve better pay, equal to what actors get.

My great grandfather from my father's side, Sir Akbar Hydari, was the prime minister of the Nizam of Hyderabad. He was instrumental in setting up the Osmania university. His wife set up the Hydari club for women so that they could play tennis, and she also set up the first girls' school in Hyderabad.

I was a hostess in a restaurant in New York when I was 21, and I was too good of an employee. I was putting most of my energy into that instead of acting. But my father told my sister and me to look at whatever needed to be done and do that job well, no matter what it was.

I was recommended for the role in 'Sharmeelee' by Sunil Dutt who admired my performance in 'Sawan Bhadon' and 'Reshma Aur Shera.' 'Sharmeelee' was a movie I did at a time when my career base was just building and back then I never expected it to become such a rage.

I have been accused of having people design my image, tell me what to say in interviews, design my clothes, the way I look and talk, and, of course, my music. It's true I do work with people, but not to accomplish anything bad: just the basics that any person does in this business and with this opportunity to live out my dreams.

I didn't have any doubts about my choice of career, but I had constant doubts about my ability, yes.