My father made sure that I had lots of levels of education – from ballroom-dancing to painting, commando training, theatre and magic.

I've always loved the old epics that tell a simple emotional story, whether it's the tumultuous relationship between Rhett and Scarlett or Lawrence of Arabia's passion to get lost in a faraway place.

Everything I make starts very personally.

I mean, '8 ½' to me is such a great dissertation on the whole, you know, act of filmmaking and creativity.

To be honest, there is a tourists' trail; my family had a farm and a gas station, and you can go and see my birthplace, though where I lived is actually under a freeway now.

Western films don't do very well in India.

I understand that anything actors are doing, good or bad, is motivated by fear.