A Muslim fanatic and a Christian fanatic, a Jewish fanatic, a secular fanatic, an atheist fanatic, a communist fanatic - all of them are the same. The thinking that, 'If you don't think like me, that if you are not with me, then you are against me;' this is something to condemn.

You never have these moments that, you know, are always perfect. Always something happens.

The information I have about Iran is second hand.

I think that all stories - if you make movies about zombies and aliens - it has always to do with your personal story. If not directly, it is about your fears, your obsessions, things like that.

A cat can never be well-trained because they're too independent.

It's cinematographic to smoke. Imagine Lauren Bacall without a cigarette.

I became the voice of a generation in a very surprising way, because many Iranians recognize themselves in it. But that is not what I wanted.