- I like to think of myself as a citizen of the world, though I will always be incredibly proud of the fact that I am Indian.
- My goal is to smash Hollywood's stereotype of Indians.
- If I wasn't an actor, I would have become a professional fighter.
- I like to be multi-talented, and pursue as many things as I can.
- "I muttered a 'yes' - then belted out screams of joy after hanging up the phone!" (On being accepted by Tony award-winning acting teacher Mel Shapiro into the UCLA graduate acting program, a class of 10 students)
- It allowed me to show an enormous amount of range as an actor, from going from a guy who is all about partying and girls, to someone who actually cares about life, about God and spreading the message of God. - On his role as Talvin in Far from India (2003)
- The adrenaline (on the set) was crazy. - On his experience on 24 (2001 TV series)
- It was a very long time for what was supposed to be a guest star role. They just kept writing me in; it was very flattering. - On his experience on Days of Our Lives (1965 TV series)
- It was superb. I worked with all the stars of the show. They're all very nice people. - On his experience on Days of Our Lives (1965 TV series)
- [on playing Professor Callahan in Legally Blonde The Musical] I absolutely love it. I think it's always a dream for an actor to play a bad guy. I feel there's so much more fun to playing someone twisted and trying to still find the humanity in the character. It's such a well-written role - it's witty, it's sharp... [and] the songs he has are excellent and the arch of his character, what he ends up to doing to Elle, is something the audience, I think, doesn't see coming.
- [on preparing for his role of Professor Callahan in Legally Blonde The Musical] The conclusion I came to was, I'm definitely very cold, like a shark. I'm very calm and sometimes emotionless, like a shark. And yet, at the same time, there are times where I use "the wolf in sheep's clothing" as an analogy. What I felt is that when I smile I'm at my most dangerous, actually.
- [on the benefits of actors watching their own work and true humility]: ...fake humility. It's very detrimental to an actor. You should appreciate yourself, so long as you know how to appreciate yourself to your advantage. Some actors pretend that it's abhorrent to see themselves on film: 'Oh, no, that's too much.' (But not wanting to see yourself work is) equally as bad as someone who's fawning all over himself. We're all so concerned with appearances. I don't like actors who act as if they want other people's pity.
- [on his love for playing dark characters and those who play them convincingly]: Bad guys think that what they're doing is right - to the point of delusion. Look at Christoph Waltz in Inglourious Basterds (2009) - guys like that are convinced that what they are doing is right, like in that opening speech of his when he compares Jews to rats.
- [on the factors that make his portrayal of Professor Callahan in Legally Blonde The Musical different from previous actors]: It's like I'm out to prove myself. I'm the youngest actor to have played this role so far, and I want to make him compelling and charismatic, like he's got that young fire - in effect, saying, "Look at me: I run a billion-dollar law firm. And look at you - you're just getting started. I am God, and this is my show."
- [About being away from loved ones while on the road]: I didn't even have a laptop before this tour. But I am so thankful for technology now. Skype is my mantra.
- [on his life on the road, being on a 10-month tour]: We perfected the art of sleeping on the bus. It's fun to see new cities, new states - but it's challenging physically, emotionally, mentally. Usually, I'm a guy who goes to bed at a normal hour. But if you think of a typical worker who works 9 to 6, gets home 6:30 - they're going to sleep around 11 o'clock, with several hours to unwind ... well, if you did that on a tour ... and even as it is, I'm often up until 1:00 or 2:00 am.
- [on the subject of the types of journalists that he enjoys talking to]: I expect them to know as much about me as I know about them.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content