Basically, whenever I watch my mother on screen, I never judge her as a performer; I always see her as my mother and I become emotional.

Yes, I mean, I can't match up to my mother's acting skills, actually both my parents. I just cannot match up to them. My mother was such a powerful and a respectable performer. They are actually overshadowing me and yes, I cannot be as good as them.

I just stumbled into acting; my first choice indeed was music and sports.

I know that if I want to be respected, I have to show respect.

I want to love myself and love my life.

No, I never planned my life.

I feel that a film or a play presenting homosexuality does not necessarily have to come with a message for the audience. It is a way of life, everyone should be treated equally.

Both my parents have done considerable work in theatre and I have grown up with that culture, but I still felt that I needed formal training.

I get very lazy when I come to Delhi. My visits here are all about sitting and eating and it is very dangerous.

I make it a point to have my meals after every two hour gap and am very particular about it.

Dad is very hard working. I want to be like that. I just want him to be happy with my work.

No one needs to treat you like a star kid in the industry, but you do get pointed at... people assume you get everything on a silver platter, but that's not true.

Most pretty girls are hard to please, aren't they?

Some of my films were worth it and some were not. Like every actor, I had my share of ups and downs but I took it in my stride and tried to learn from it.

Obviously I am Prateik Babbar but I would like to be called Prateik. I am superstitious; there is a spiritual reason why.

I never dropped my surname.

I don't want to limit myself as an actor.

I was always aware Mom was someone who was recognised, admired and loved.

There are too many different kinds of people in this world. Not just drags or gays, everybody is different from each other. We should proudly own our individuality.

The biases in our society stems from the orthodox mentality. It is very deep-rooted in our country but we need to wake up.

We, as a society, need to be open-minded.

My grandparents and my aunts tell me that I need to make a name for myself like my mother. Their thoughts really motivate me.

I've grown up in Mumbai, did college from Mumbai, many colleges, actually - Jai Hind, Ruia, Andrews, Wilson, Whistling Woods... Then I worked as a production assistant with Prahlad Kakar, and then I started acting.

Life is nothing without ups and downs.