Quotes from Shabana Azmi

A woman director is not obliged to make a feminist film. She can make what she wants, a thriller, an action film, a comedy, or whatever, but hopefully, she will be informed by a gaze that is female.

One of the best things that we have in India is a free press.

I grew up in a family that believed that art should be used as an instrument for social change.

Terrorism should be struck down with an iron hand.

I think there is not enough understanding of the fact that in a democracy how you treat the security of the minority must be a very important part for the success of a democracy.

Im hoping that for film actors there is this kind of emotional trigger on any subject. It need not be only slums. It can be anything. But even if it is tentative, sooner or later, it will - by its sheer force - engulf you in a way where you make a commitment and you get involved in it, beyond just making it an image-building exercise.

We live in interesting times. Information overload can make it difficult to sift fact from fiction.

'Aurat' is an iconic poem which is relevant 70 years later and informs me in the work I do with women.

My fingers are always in every single pie.

I like having family and friends around me. Our house is always overflowing with guests.

My casting in 'Halo' produced by Steven Spielberg, which I am doing, is just color-blind casting; Asians have been questioning why best roles should not come to them and I am so happy about this color-blind casting. I am going to be just what I am in that film.

There is a dumbing down of the news. Newspapers today seem more like tabloids. I have to wade through seven newspapers before I can find a couple of paragraphs that are serious news. What a pity!