I've been travelling, returning home for promotional appearances, and juggling it all with being the mother of a five-year-old.

After 'Raees,' I used to wonder how I'd feel working on another film and to do this and still enjoy it - I know now I like acting; I enjoy it.

I've always been sensitive and over-emotional.

Everyone goes through things; everyone has a story. That's why strangers are so interesting. I don't find a single human being boring, man.

I was a dreamer, and I still am one.

When we show our flaws, we show the world that we don't look pretty all the time.

Now, I realise that love is peace. Love is when you are with somebody, and it's okay, and you don't have to talk. Their presence is important.

Your life could be falling apart, but for your audience, you have to put up a show.

I've suffered from anxiety and a lot of other things.

I wish I had gone to Cannes with a film, but I had gone there for L'Oreal Pakistan. I cannot tell you the people that I was around, from Helen Mirren to Jane Fonda. It was a proud moment on the red carpet when they announced my name and said 'Mahira Khan from Pakistan.'

We cannot base our judgment on binaries such as a person's gender.

Once I did a film like 'Verna,' which was emotionally draining, I knew I needed to do something lighter and entertaining.

I do feel it's tougher to make a comic scene work than performing an intense scene, for example.

I have a lot of respect for actors who do comedy. They do it naturally.

I want every single person to like my work.

As a child, I used to steal Indian film magazines.

I romanticise every moment of my life, and that is why I have fallen in love with life.

My parents were like these hippies almost: they are free-spirited, but they were also strict - which seems like a weird dynamic - but it worked.

The fact is I've always been such a big Bollywood fan, from the time I was very young. I remember I'd watch new Bollywood films every Thursday night on a video cassette.

I have been lucky with the people that I've worked with - and I have worked with very few people.

Every character is challenging because, at the end of the day, you have to make something out of it.

I'm doing 'Maula Jutt 2,' which is a Punjabi film. For me, it's a new experience because I have never spoken Punjabi, and I hope everyone is going to love it.

I know it's easy to say the box-office numbers doesn't matter, but the reality is it actually does.

I loved 'Highway.' It was amazing. I have watched Imtiaz Ali's other films, too, and he is one of my favourite Bollywood directors, besides Vishal Bhardwaj and Mani Ratnam.

I am very much open to Bollywood and would love to work in great stories.

My directors are always more confident about me doing a role than I am.

The most vital thing for an actor to deliver a great performance is to be honest to the role he or she is playing.

If people can come out of 'Bin Roye' feeling even just a little bit of what this character felt, and touched your heart, that's enough for me.

I did meet Shah Rukh. He was very kind.

Luckily, I've had the chance to perform with some of the best actors in Pakistan, who helped me out a lot on set.

Only a good actor has an edge over a weak actor. A hardworking actor has an edge over a lazy actor. Nationality has nothing to do with it.

Now I've come to a place where I believe that anger doesn't really make me a better actor.

Actors love to do good work irrespective of country and borders.

I would definitely like to work in India. It is just that I am quite picky when it comes to roles.

Actresses have always been in a position of power.

How much money I demand - or don't demand - is my prerogative as an actor. However, when it comes to commercials, my outlook is different. And in that area, I do try to set certain standards, financially or otherwise.

It's very hard for an artist to negotiate their fees. My job is to act; my manager's job should be to handle the business side of it.

I will work in films based on quality productions and significant characters.

I became an actor only as a result of Madhuri Dixit. I was watching 'Ram Lakhan,' and her song 'Bada dukh dina' started playing. The minute I saw it, I told my mother, 'I wish to accomplish it. I desire to be on TV.'

Since the Indian film industry is one of the oldest, and I have grown up admiring all the movies, especially the classics starring Guru Dutt, I would love to work here.

'Humsafar' was the show that made me popular.

On-screen wardrobes are important. They help create an overall aura, and with local productions being viewed all around the globe, they represent our aesthetics to the world.

I love commercial cinema.

Art connects everyone.

I am very self-doubting; it has come out of experience.

I am scared to answer questions. I do not think and answer. I say whatever comes to my mind.

The truth is that we have all gone through failure. I have personally as well as professionally experienced failure.

It is a big thing to work in a foreign film.

'Humsafar' is addictive; it's a good nasha to have. I remember, when the show was on here in Pakistan, my friends would keep asking me what's going to happen next. And those who didn't see it when it was aired the first time watched all episodes back-to-back because they found it very gripping.

I can't work in Indian serials, as they are too long... they run for years.