I was born in India… Gujarat. I am an Indian! And India is a democratic country, anyone can stand for elections. I can also stand for elections.

I believe if the atmosphere on the set is positive, it definitely reflects on the screen. Your work becomes easy if the environment on the set is healthy and positive.

Why would any one make a biopic on me? I would have lived my life a certain way, had I known that a biopic will be made on it in future. I agree, every person's life has enough drama to be translated into a movie but I can't say the same about myself.

I've decided to get into active politics on Narendra Modiji's request. I don't know how successful I will be, but I'll give it my best shot.

The Congress had the opportunity to do a lot of good. It isn't as if they didn't have good people in the party. God knows why they failed. If after 65 years of governance you cannot provide drinking water to everyone then you should be ashamed of yourself.

I have done 'Mumbai Meri Jaan,' 'Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!;' they are not comedy. But those roles didn't stick with people. Comedy films run, even though some of them are bad films. So people see these more.

At the end of the day, my bread and butter comes from films, so I have to work in films that may not have a great script, but give me a fat pay cheque.

Theatre has a strong connect with the audience and gratifies me as an actor, but the canvas of films is huge!

There's more to Gujarati cinema than characters wearing kediya and ghagra choli and saying 'Aa ra ra ra.'

As a child, I was mischievous and an attention-seeker, so acting came naturally to me.

Performing at Prithvi was a novel experience, because unlike other theatres, it was very different - it didn't have any curtains and the audience was at close proximity to the actors.

I will never stop performing on stage.

Unlike films, theatre allows you to experiment as an actor, which is fulfilling.

I believe that people should believe people around them, they should treat each other with kindness.

If you look back on my career, I scared a lot of people with my villainous role in 'Naam.'

Before passing a judgement on somebody just give it a thought about what he or she went through.

I have met Sunil Dutt-ji two or three times and though I don't have a special memory of these meetings, I know that he was a gentleman and a fantastic human being.

Theatre is an actor's medium while a film is the director's.

Yes, Gujaratis are humorous but that's not all there is to them. Gujaratis are independent, determined and very hardworking.

I'm fortunate to have got the opportunity to play interesting characters.

Ever since I got to know how easily skin donation can save the lives of serious burns patients, I have felt strongly about the issue.

We knew no matter how well 'Phir Hera Pheri' does, it would always be compared to 'Hera Pheri.' Yet, we took it as a challenge.

I am tired of doing stupid comedies. Though comedy has given me the breakthrough in the industry, I constantly feel the need to grow.

If my son is not performing well, I would not pelt stone on him - this is not the way a Hindustani behaves.

Anyone in any part of the country will connect with 'Laagi'… because it has very strong emotions.

I want to make sensible commercial films.

I like simple home-cooked food.

I never felt like running away from my dreams.

Every time my capability as an actor would be questioned, I would put in double the effort.

I understand that everything is dictated by market value. But cinema is also an art. It saddens me to see great talent languishing for lack of proper roles.

My middle class values are intact.

I began my career with Gujarati and Hindi plays in 1973.

It is not necessary to have a good sense of humour personally to do comedy well.

Charlie Chaplin was known to be an acrimonious person. Not that I compare myself to him but I am quite brusque, too.

I have done too many movies but too little variety.

I have enjoyed doing some films as they were well written like 'Andaz Apna Apna,' 'Hera Pheri' and 'Cheeni Kum.' These films were high on the comedy quotient as the characters were creating a comic situation.

As an actor, the experience that I have as a politician while sitting in Parliament - that helps me enrich myself as an actor. But I am an actor first.

The country needs a leader like Modi. He should come to the national level politics.

I have full confidence in Modi and his policies. Just like Gujarat, he will transform India.

It's difficult to adopt mannerism of a real-life person and even add the nuances of your acting into it.

Writing a comedy script is a difficult thing. I think if someone is attempting a comedy and then they fail then it's understood.

I admired actors like Dilip Kumar and Om Puri as a kid and acting was all I ever thought about.

I have a hunger for good roles.

I love Delhi for its historical value and the variety of food it offers.

I do theatre for my personal satisfaction and enjoyment.

In a film, I can show you the beach, the sunset, the roads, while in a play you have to imagine all that.

AR Rahman is truly great.

It's not whether I believe in God, but it's whether He believes in me.

An actor can give his best shot but the script and dialogues have to have punch to make it more effective.

I frequently visit Ahmedabad. My sister lives here.