I have never believed that the critic is the rival of the poet, but I do believe that criticism is a genre of literature or it does not exist.

Painting should never look as if it were done with difficulty, however difficult it may actually have been.

My father was a painter and he taught art. He once said to me, 'I never knew an Indian child who could not draw.'

Acting was always the first love, but a lot of people want to be actors, and my goal was, 'Come hell or high water, I will be a part of this world, however I can.' So that just led me to throwing myself into every aspect of narrative storytelling I could.

I had composed songs, I sang, and played the vina. Practising this music I arrived at a stage where I touched the music of the spheres. Then every soul became a musical note, and all life became music. Inspired by it I spoke to the people, and those who were attracted by my words listened to them instead of listening to my songs.

Poetry is indispensable - if I only knew what for.