ASHA PAREKH

I met my share of boys but the end result was always the same - they weren't the right kind of men for me.

Nowadays, all actresses wear gowns and trot all over the place. However, our sarees would look more elegant, and yet so appealing. So, my advice to all heroines is: start wearing sarees as well, to look more beautiful!

My mother was very keen I learn dance and I learnt so many forms.

We were to work in a film titled 'Zabardast'. Unfortunately, this film didn't take off. After this, I never got another chance to work with him, I regret not having worked with Dilip Kumar.

There was someone from China who came down to my house and locked himself outside the gate. He wanted to marry me and created a lot of trouble. I had to eventually report to the police and put him behind the bars.

There was a time when the directors would sign me first and then go to the hero. There was a time when on my name a film used to be sold.

Though not into films, my family was associated with films. My grandparents financed films. They didn't like me getting into films. But, destiny willed it so.

People mistake the thrill of early love for a relationship that is capable of braving storms and get disillusioned when they find out that their partner isn't perfect.

I could not do Satyajit Ray's 'Kanchenjunga' because I had already committed the daters he wanted to shoot on to other producers.

My parents had an inter-reli'gious marriage. My father is a Gujarati and my mother a Bohri Muslim. I am an only child. My par'ents loved me very much, but were very strict: I was a tomboy, always among boys, playing, fighting.

I did 6-7 films as a child. But it was taking a toll on my studies. So I went back to being a full-time student at JB Petit here in Mumbai.

Depression can take you into a black hole, so it is terrible.

I feel autobiographies should be written when you're retiring and there's so much to talk about as you've been working for so many years then. It becomes more interesting and there's more material to go in the autobiography.

I realised I was a 'star' when my first film Dil Deke Dekho was released after being rejected before. It was a very big thing for me.

My era was a totally different time. it was indeed a golden era as you say because something magical was there. I mean family and bonding. What more do I say? The films had a lot of warmth and affection.

I did 500 shows of 'Chaula Devi' and 700 shows of 'Anarkali'. I never mixed the filmy style with classical arts and kept my stage performances pure and it was appreciated.

I was a dancer, so it was easy for me to dance in films. I had studied Kathak, Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi, Odisi and Kathakali much before I even thought of becoming an actor.

Of course there should be women empowerment, women should get every right. They need to fight for it because the society doesn't look at women equally, and that's not fair.

I know I admitted to being in love with Nasir Hussain in 'The Hit Girl', but as much as I loved him, I could never consider breaking up his family and traumatising his children. It was far simpler and satisfying to be on my own.

I lost my parents. I was totally alone and I had to manage everything all alone. It did put me in depression.

Marriage is not all rainbows and butterflies; you have to give in to your partner's whims every now and then, and that's a two-way street.

But since I did my first film with Shammi Kapoor ji, he is my favourite. I was very shy to face the camera. In my first few shots with Shammi chacha, I was very nervous. He was very patient with me and guided me in every shot.

The release of my first film was a very memorable event in my life. It was stardom overnight. There was a very big premiere.

I feel blessed and lucky that some of the film industry's most magical and iconic songs where legendary composers and singers have collaborated have been filmed on me.

Over time, my mother also gave up her dream of seeing me as a bride because whomever she showed my horoscope to would say my marriage wouldn't be a successful one. It was not the kind of thing I believed in, but it did grant me some semblance of peace.