I was a gift to my mother. She was a remarkable person. God or nature, or whatever those forces are, smiled on her, then passed me the best of her.

I lived in a country where I couldn't live where I wanted to live. I lived in a country where I couldn't go where I wanted to eat. I lived in a country where I couldn't get a job, except for those put aside for people of my colour or caste.

I was a gift to my mother. She was a remarkable person. God or nature, or whatever those forces are, smiled on her, then passed me the best of her.

Mine was an easy ride compared to Jackie Robinson's.

I had to satisfy the action fans, the romantic fans, the intellectual fans. It was a terrific burden.

In my case, the body of work stands for itself... I think my work has been representative of me as a man.

I did not go into the film business to be symbolized as someone else's vision of me.