(Laughs heartily) Shekhar Kapur, who has known me since I was small. He was the one who kept telling me that I should get into the movies. He was going to direct the film Prem for Boney Kapoor, and I was cast in it. Soon I realised that once you are into this business, it is nearly impossible to uproot yourself and go back to studies.

What do you tell Shekhar Kapur now?

I thank him, I thank him, and I thank him, though initially I thought I wasn't going to be happy with movies.

Why was that?

I think it had do something with my condenscending attitude. Since I thought I was going to be in a film or two and resume my studies, I had no patience with the film shoots. I could not understand why a whole week was required to shoot a three-minute song.

When did you change your attitude?

I think within two years after I started working. Prem was delayed for a long time and Shekhar was not directing it any more (Started in 1990, it was released five years later with Satish Kaushik as the director). Then I worked in a Telugu film directed by K Raghuvendra Rao. I must say that I have worked with many distinguished directors but in the formative years of my career, I got a lot of real education from him.

What are some of the things you learned from him?

Discipline, for one thing. He would also tell me about respecting everyone around you, and respecting the profession.

Also Read: 'I don't believe in being loyal'

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