"Do I look like a masochist or the sort who'd go through physical or verbal abuse? A year after my accident... when I fell of the stairs, I'm still being asked if I was physically abused. It saddens me that I'm being portrayed as this battered woman."


"Even in India the Hindi film industry might be the best known but there are movies made in other regional languages in India, be it Tamil or Bengali. Those experiences too are different from the ones in Bombay."



"I always believed that my silence on several topics will be an advantage in the long run."


"I don't want to win any brownie points for giving good copy to the press. I've been extremely dignified and well-behaved while dealing with journalists. So many journalists who have interacted with me have come away pleasantly surprised."


"I have a great story to tell... and I tell it well. No holds barred."


"I know for a fact that if there's a role which I am suited for, I'll be signed on. I'll never go begging."


"I was more excited than scared, at the opportunity to work in an English movie."


"I was studying to be an architect, I wasn't plotting to join the movies. Films were just another career option. I took acting up with the same schoolgirl enthusiasm I had for examinations. Acting is a job and I take it very seriously."


"I'm not the type who'll yell about my achievements from the rooftops."


"I've never wanted to be the flavour of the month. I'd rather be known as a sincere professional. It's never been important for me to be newsmaker or a dial-a quote wonder. That's not my deal at all."


"If 100 people tommorow say that the sky is fuschia pink and theorise about it in the papers, someone's actually going to believe that the sky is pink."


"My family is my strength and my weakness."


"Okay, let's take statistics. How many interviews have I given you in the last six years? Just five or six? Doesn't that say something? I hate to sound immodest, but this dates back to my personality since the age of 13. I've always got attention, which at times has been quite unwarranted."


"Professionally, I'm on a roll. I have no doubts about the way my career has been going. I've never felt the need to name-drop or align myself with a particular project just to stay in the news. Regrettably, I've had to dissociate myself from quite a few projects."


"Right now, I'm following the Buddhist principle: Smile as abuse is hurled your way and this too shall pass."


"Unfortunately my personal involvement in some of my projects is being misconstrued as high-handedness."

Has signed on for the lead in the British production PROVOKED. (May 13, 2005)

Said she never had kissing scenes on screen. (January 3, 2005)

Nickname: Ash, Aishu, Gullu

Wanted to study medicine, but circumstances prevented her.

Miss World 1994

Was offered Rani Mukherjee's role in KUCH KUCH HOTA HAI.

Runner up, Miss India 1994

Ambassador for Longines watches since 1999

Suffered an accident on the set of KHAKEE (2003) when a car driven by a stuntman got out of control, hit her, took her down a crevice and slammed her into a cactus plant. She broke a bone in one foot and suffered severe cuts. She was rushed to a hospital. The incident rekindled the discussion about poor safety standards on Hollywood film sets. (April 2003)

The first Indian actress to be on the jury of the Cannes International Film Festival

Eye Color: blue green

Languages spoken: English, Hindi, Kannada

Favorite hero-heroine: Raj Kapoor, Nargis.

Favorite all-time movie: CASABLANCA

Admits never goes on a diet.