When I had entered Bollywood, I had decided that in the first decade of my career, I will do what others ask me to do, and in the next decade, I will do what I want.
Bollywood, no doubt, has a wider acclaim, and it feels top of the world to see people from all around the world dancing to my songs.
Of course, I’d love to do Bollywood.
If evil wins in a Bollywood film, it is bound to flop. A lot of people here want to change society, so they like to read about it being changed. And that means good usually triumphs.
People used to think I am wearing turban so maybe I won’t act. Then Bollywood happened. So on its own things have happened in my career.
I stopped working in Bollywood because I was getting the same kind of work.
India uses Bollywood, rather cinema, to tell its stories. It is one of the largest filmmaking nations in the world and so your talents get to tell stories about politics, love and drama through films.
Sportsmen do not need Bollywood or film industry; they do not need publicity: it could be the other way round.
I’m excited to work in Bollywood, but I want to be part of meaningful projects.
If I were a star kid, I wouldn’t have tried so many things. I would have done theatre and directly joined movies. I did radio and TV shows because I had to carve my own way. Outsiders like me have to reach Bollywood through modelling, theatre, or radio.
I am not going to disconnect from Bollywood or sacrifice my career in the industry for international projects. Everything began here, and I respect that.
I don’t listen to Bollywood music much. But yes, I listen to Indian music quite often, and other non- film music.
As an artist, I am for non-film music as well. I want that to shine as much as Bollywood.
I haven’t faced a casting couch in the South or Bollywood. But yes, I have faced my share of harassment in both industries. I don’t have the guts to name them because they are powerful people – men and women who made sure I felt helpless.
Bollywood works as hard as regional cinema makers.
As far as I am getting interesting projects to work in, it doesn’t matter whether it’s Bollywood, South or Gujarati. The script is the hero for me.
I love music, and can dance on the desi beats. Punjabi music is my favourite. I listen to artists like Honey Singh. I love his music. I also love watching Bollywood films.
The kind of songs I sing have been existing in Bollywood music since a long time. In fact, the reason my music is so popular amongst the millions of youth is because I sing in their own language, in their own slang, and about their lives.
I began working in Gujarati movies and I got noticed by many in Bollywood. It has been organic growth.
Our Bollywood stars who talk of being part of 100 crore films, I think I belong to the 1,000 crore club.
I am proud of the fact that I am the first South Indian director who has been accepted by Bollywood wholeheartedly.
Bollywood marketing is larger-than-life. Honestly, it amuses me.
You could become an overnight star in Bollywood with just single hit, but your fate would change with a single flop. That’s why I do not derive satisfaction however much name I earn for myself in Bollywood.
You want to do a lot as an artist, and Bollywood does not always give you that freedom.
I don’t think Bollywood is my ultimate destination; I believe it’s a part of my journey.
There are only two kinds of roles that work in Bollywood, the sexy and the glamorous kind.
If I get good Bollywood offers, I would love to act.
I am a totally private person. I don’t go to Bollywood parties.
I don’t have newspapers in my house. I have a news application which only gives me important news, no Bollywood. So even if there is some report about me, I don’t know.
I do good work in Pakistan. I am an A-lister actor. So, even in Bollywood I want to work with an A-lister.
I know a Bollywood actress’ tenure is limited.
I am glad that critics and filmmakers liked my work, and I have been warmly welcomed in Bollywood.
I am not interested to sing in Bollywood. I sing for only those actors whom I admire. I sing free of cost for them. I want to take independent music ahead, and my songs are completely based on my observations.
Bollywood actors are so set in what they want, and the way they want it. And why shouldn’t they be? But it is not the same in Hollywood, because the love of the audience is not the same.
I am very happy that in the second year of my acting career in Bollywood I got to do a biopic.
I don’t want to be a part of any Bollywood movie.
Actually, it’s the beauty of independent music that the artist can feature in his own videos and be the face of it. It is unlike Bollywood movies, where one does playback singing.
Believe me when you are part of the Bollywood world, you are always under the dark clouds of stress as work life is very unpredictable here and competition keeps getting hard with every passing day.
My journey in Bollywood has been quite filmy, as it includes sleeping on railway platforms to teaching dance for a living. The journey has taught me a lot, and I am very grateful that all that happened with me. It helped me in becoming a more stronger man.
I have become limitless and stronger. You don’t need that attitude to survive in Bollywood, but when you are doing a film like ‘Raaz,’ you can’t go on set with inhibitions.
The fact is I’ve always been such a big Bollywood fan, from the time I was very young. I remember I’d watch new Bollywood films every Thursday night on a video cassette.
I was 19 when I made my Bollywood debut with ‘Ekk Deewana Tha,’ and all alone in Mumbai. I would be easily affected by all that was said or written about me.
We are always larger than life because we come from this mentality that since we are a very poor nation, we need an escapist cinema to take us out of our miseries. And that’s where Bollywood comes from.
I can’t run away from my prior commitments in Tollywood just because I have an offer from Bollywood.
I came to Mumbai to participate in a dance reality show and thought that could be my ticket to Bollywood. Gradually, I discovered that acting is what I am more passionate about and that passion has helped my boat sail.
I feel that if Bollywood singers focus on non-film music as well… like this EP ‘Naina,’ which has songs sung by Sonu Nigam and Devender Pal Singh, it is really good.
I can’t be diplomatic or compromise or take crap from people, so I’d probably make an exit way before I even made a proper entry into Bollywood.
I love Bollywood films, but I have been trained in independent cinema.
There is so much talent in the country, and not all of that necessarily is confined to Bollywood. There are some great musicians from the independent music scenario in India making some great music.
I started doing modeling and continued for good three to four months and then I started getting Kannada movies. Then I realized that I really want to try getting into acting. A lot of people started saying that have ‘I have a Bollywood face.’
It’s not that I am not being offered work in Bollywood but I seldom like any script.
Travelling has always been my passion and also an integral part of my profession, lovingly known as Bollywood.
I don’t even miss Bollywood because I was getting to do some amazing work in the regional industry.
If there is place for music that I do in Bollywood, then I would surely like to sing a song in a Hindi film.
Bollywood is just one of the industries I am working in. I have sung in other languages and for ad jingles too.
Bollywood is a cinema of vibrant contradictions, which works when it seems it shouldn’t.
If I can still have Hollywood and a piece of Bollywood, I will take it.
We considered a few Bollywood actors as well for the villain role in ‘Jigarthanda,’ but we finally zeroed in on Simha because we felt he would be the most unexpected person to play it. Had we cast someone popular, then it would have become predictable.
It’s scary to imagine yourself failing. But I do know that in Bollywood, every Friday changes your destiny, and unfortunately, every Friday also changes the way people look at you.
I like the nexus of Bollywood and Hollywood. I’m actually shocked that there isn’t more of a meld between our two industries.
I always look for innovative casting and that’s why I seek directors, whether in Bollywood or regional films, who are keen to make something different.
Before ever meeting Priyanka Chopra, I had heard her name coming out of Bollywood and was impressed: she was beautiful, talented, had made nearly 50 movies, earned multiple awards – a massive star.
I never went and searched for a Bollywood film. It just happened naturally… it was a natural course.
I don’t think that I will say that we are less talented in Bollywood, but our functioning is different. We cater to a different kind of audience.
‘Kalyug’ and ‘A Passage to India’ did get me a lot of recognition and acclamation. But for some reason I stopped getting offers from Bollywood after that.
I don’t think telly actors are inferior to Bollywood stars in any way.
I am not a part of Bollywood. Nobody cares about me in Bollywood and I have mentally resigned from Bollywood long ago. I am an independent filmmaker.
