All we have is the knowledge passed on to us by our elders, experiences we inculcate and hardly negate. But to bridge the generation gap, one needs to adapt to the new while retaining the goodness of the old.
Sonali Bendre
The point of human evolution is adapting to circumstance. Not letting go of the old, but adapting it, is necessary.
Life goes on, and one should look ahead and not backward.
I believe, as human beings, we sometimes indulge in self pity more than it's necessary. Over my life's journey, I have realised that overthinking about your problems and indulging in self-pity is not the answer to get through tough times.
My mother-in-law thinks I'm more beautiful than all the other faces around. She keeps encouraging me to take up more work.
As it is, 'Size Zero' is not for me. I feel a woman should have a feminine figure.
Unless you are aggressive, you will never become number one.
Not many people know that I was one of the first few Indian actors to do a television show. I did the dance show 'Kya Masti Kya Dhoom' when I was at the peak of my career.
If you are agitated, children tend to think that they have done something wrong.
I have two full-time jobs: one of a mother and the other of an actor. Both are equally important, and that's why I'm busy 24x7.
My whole life turned upside down once I became a mother.
During Holi, my mom prepares lovely puran polis, and everyone in my family makes an exception in their diet plan to include this delicious food item!
I know people have always seen me in very fitted clothes because that is required and so is done, but personally, I like the deconstructed look.
Marriage is not synonymous to change but a new dimension to life.
The parenting books didn't work for me; I got my parenting lessons from everything but the books! And it was about figuring things out. So every time I had a thought, I would put down my conclusions and thoughts.
Ranveer was almost three when I began my second stint. I took up TV assignments so that I could have enough time at home. While being 24/7 with my child was amazing and his company stimulating, I missed adult conversations.
Bengalis have the best skin and hair; there's something more about the fish from here. I think I will start ordering fish from Bengal!
Comfort is always a priority, but that doesn't mean, just for the sake of comfort, I will wear some silly stuff and make myself look tacky.
I read anything and everything. Comfort food for my brain is fantasy fiction or science fiction.
As I started parenting, I realised there is no formula to it.
I would be happy to do 'Sarfarosh 2'. The script should be as good as the first one. I don't want to destroy the goodwill of the first one.
I tell women who have gone through cancer that healing from it requires receiving care, receiving support, letting friends and family rally around us. It is time to receive.
As an actor, there are a lot of personas and personalities that you carry. Whatever you wear, you adapt to it, and people feel that's your style. But that's not necessarily an actor's style. There are some things that are very 'you,' and some are only to suit your persona.
I have endorsed every hair product in my career. Looks have been my bread, butter, jam. Looks are important in our society.
I don't think telly actors are inferior to Bollywood stars in any way.
I have fond memories of consuming a handful of almonds that were soaked the previous night and peeled the next morning. All through my school life, my mother would ensure she kept some almonds in my tiffin box so that I would always have my daily dose of nutrition handy.
Time management is surely the most critical aspect of acing multiple arenas: home, work, and family.
I'm so glad that my profession helps me find a balance. I have the luxury to choose between my work and my family. Many women don't. I thank my stars for whatever I have.
People often confuse self-respect with arrogance. I believe that there is a very thin line between the two. Balance between the two is often what leads to happiness.
Initially, I was like, 'I can handle anything. What's the big deal about being a mother?' I was not prepared for the changes which are so subtle that they creep up on you.
My mother has done a great job with her kids. The daily struggle of raising three daughters with a very limited income yet seeing to it that they get a good upbringing, giving her daughters wings even after not being so educated - that person is my hero.
Every time I feel fearful of something now, I do it.
Personally, I wear a lot of my mother-in-law's chiffons and my mother's silk. But when I buy saris for myself, then they have to be understated.
Television is on a small screen, inside someone's living room, so you have to grab their attention while they are having dinner or cooking or doing something else.
I land in New York, and next day, we go to the doctor. He looks at everything, and we had sent all our tests, and he says, 'You know, it is fourth stage, and you have 30% chance of survival.'
I came from a very middle class Maharashtrian family. It was a big step to get into movies. My family was shocked.
Every cancer is different. The symptoms and treatments are different, and every human body deals with it differently. There are no formulas to it. That, I think, was the biggest takeaway for me.
I am a completely self-made person. It's been a tough journey - I learnt on the job, worked 48 hours without sleeping.
There's a hidden Goth in me: I have a dark sense of humour; I have a dark sense of fashion.
My routine is very simple because I realised that the more complicated the exercise sessions are, the less likely I am to make it for them. They have to be simple and doable in my daily routine.
When I shaved my hair, my friends asked me to keep it, maybe make my own wig out of it, but I wanted the old hair to go; it was not mine. I wanted to let go.
I am a Maharashtrian but was not brought up in Maharashtra, as my father worked in CPWD and was transferred every two years. So I have always been a gypsy. I, therefore, could not make good friends, and it still takes me a long time to form attachments.
I come from a background where there would be one mirror above the basin that was used by everyone in the house. If you spent more than five minutes in front of the mirror, you would probably get a whack. My mother was so strict that if anyone complimented me for being pretty, she would not encourage that discussion.
My parents are naive in their morality of things, and so, without realising it, I landed up being ethical and having strong opinions.
I don't want to be equal to a man. We are different and are meant to be that way. Women are more resilient than men. I thrive on the difference between a man and a woman and love a well-behaved man opening doors for me and a certain amount of caring that happens.
I have never planned my career. I never wanted to be an actress. Films were an instinctive step, just like modelling and television.
There is no reason to compare Bollywood and Marathi films. Both have their own charm.
For a formal look, I wear saris, and certain occasions require a dressed up look. But wherever I can, I like being in something easy and casual.
As a writer, penning down personal stuff was not easy for me, as it was way too close to my heart.
My writing did turn out to be quite intact, as it has all my experiences gathered at one place.
