DIVYA DUTTA

My father passed away when I was seven, mom single-handedly brought up my brother Rahul and me. She was a civil surgeon posted in rural areas. We went through some tough times but she gave us a beautiful life.

I loved my roles in 'Veer-Zaara,' 'Train To Pakistan' and 'Shaheed-e-Mohabbat.'

For me, acting has been my passion.

When faced with exceptional circumstances, people react differently.

I take pride in saying that I'm not the usual Hindi film actor who's on the top of her game for 4-5 years, then sees a slump, gets married, has kids and then makes a comeback in senior kind of roles.

My career has been far from cliched. I have always done unconventional roles and I am proud of all of them.

Audience will get bored if just one kind of films will continue to get made.

I have played different characters in different films and that versatility has worked to my benefit. I don't have to worry about the top or the bottom slot. My place is made in the industry and it's a wonderful one, believe me.

I think I found roles which weren't the roles I thought I'd be doing but they were the kind that brought me where I never imagined myself to be.

I was always the best actor and best dancer in my college.

When something wrong happens in your life and you read someone else's story in the magazine, you definitely get inspired that if she can do it, then I can also do it.

I had grown up fantasising of being Yash Chopra's heroine because I have loved his films.

I am learning cooking... all my mother's recipes.

Cinema has a greater impact as it leaves a long lasting memory. Television, on the other hand, is also good but requires a lot of time.

It feels good to be featured in a film poster. I didn't have it in the beginning of my career.

I would love to direct films and it's certainly on the cards.

I don't possess a filmi temperament. I do feel sometimes that it is not my cup of tea. So I stick to people who I vibe with mentally.

Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... Sometimes, even the best is not enough.

There are so many Shah Rukh Khan films that I like but of course, 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge' is my favourite. I fall in love with it as many times I see it.

I am really grateful to Hindustan Times as it gave me the first platform to my writing passion.

When I joined films, I was a bit plump but then I lost a lot of weight.

I am lucky that I have worked with some wonderful directors so far - Madhur Bhandarkar and Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, among others.

I do some really intense roles and it's not good to bring them home.

Being a Punjabi, I like Indian food.

Cinema is a creative medium. The director has the right to express.