My mother wanted to be a teacher when she was young, and my father didn't approve of it, so she fought very hard to become one. And she did it. So when I said I wanted to become an actress, my mother was very supportive. She always said to me, 'There's no such thing as 'can't.

A lot of the time, people want to hear from someone like myself. They want to give it a shot. It's challenging, and it's driven me more than discouraged me.

It was the success of 'Bend it Like Beckham' which got my name out there. 'A Mighty Heart' also helped.

The generation that migrated to the West in the 1970s or 1960s has now lived more in the West than India, and India has changed so much. My parents fall into that category.

I've always been quite psychic and believe there's a reason why things happen and that we need to learn from them.

And I'd love to direct. One day. I'm learning a lot on the set of The Good Wife.

You can have all the agents and publicists in the world but no one's ever going to give you 110 per cent like someone who loves you.