Amitabh Bachchan

Yes, every venture is always filled with apprehensions. But if we were to conduct ourselves continuously on that aspect, then we would lose the most important reason to be in this profession: to challenge the art of and be part of what is commonly known as our creative instincts.

I feel a burden if I don't write.

I have never really been confident about my career at any stage.

You don't see Indians in Hollywood films around which a story can revolve. As soon as we have a social presence in your society, I am sure there will be many actors from our part of the world that will be acting in Hollywood films.

I think, in any profession, what you fear most is not being able to perform, about not being able to meet new challenges. The fear of non-acceptance, particularly if in creative art. What happens if the audiences do not like you anymore!

If the modes are changing, one goes along with it, I guess.

We play many emotions in our careers, emotions that in real life we would perform just once. For example, my character has died in about 10 films, so you have to keep searching for different ways to do it!

If you represent a fantasy for the people who actually go to the cinema, they grab that and go with it; therefore, for the rest of their lives, they actually identify you with a certain thinking — a certain philosophy. There are many actors who want to pursue that same thought in real life as well, and that's perfectly acceptable.

I am not in the least eloquent or fluent with languages. My writing on social media is quite pedestrian. But even if it was near any acceptability, I would not be in a position to pen a script or a book.

I have never been a superstar and never believed in it.

I just feel that sooner or later, the sheer potential of the demographics of India, which is 1.25 billion people, will eventually be very attractive to the entertainment industry.

Everyone must accept that we will age and age is not always flattering.

I'm very fortunate to have spent so much time in the industry and to have lived through several generations of filmmakers, actors and technicians. There's a huge volume of experience seeing people change and seeing content change.

No one is perfect, and criticism is always welcome and expected.

Having no work would be terrible.

I sometimes feel that I have been born to attract controversy.

I'd love to romance Aishwarya Rai. But I'm 58 now. So I have to play her father.

I don't know how others think about me, but if I have to walk the streets, I will, and if I need to stand in a queue at the airport, that's OK.

I don't use any techniques; I'm not trained to be an actor. I just enjoy working in films.

I would rather be an aware citizen, and if an opportunity were to arise where I would have to make a statement, I would happily do that.