Honestly, I was not good in my debut film 'Poster Boys.' With my second film, 'Laila Majnu,' I was struggling with everything and I just felt lucky to even get the part.
In fact, I signed 'Laila Majnu' before the release of 'Poster Boyz.'
I think I'm an actor. You can hire me. I can do a good job. But you also have to get lucky now and then. Every film-maker knows how hard it is to do a good film. You have to just make many, and see how lucky you get.
Post 'Laila Majnu,' I was just sitting at home because I wanted to be part of a story that is as special as 'Bulbbul.'
I can't believe 50 years have gone by since that film was released. I blinked and suddenly here I am. We all really felt blessed and as for me; how lucky can a girl get. Great music does more than enhance a film, it cements our memories in the film going experience.
I'd say the film to avoid is a director's second film, particularly if his first film was a big success. The second film is where you've really needed to have learned something.
My best film is always my next film. I couldn't make Chungking Express now, because of the way I live and drink I've forgotten how I did it. I don't believe in film school or film theory. Just try and get in there and make the bloody film, do good work and be with people you love.
The silent film has a lot of meanings. The first part of the film is comic. It represents the burlesque feel of those silent films. But I think that the second part of the film is full of tenderness and emotion.
'Lucky Life' is my second narrative film. I worked on the idea for 'Lucky Life' while in Rwanda for my first film.
I think my film 'Laila Majnu' was in theatres for 7 days and I was very excited. I attended as many shows I could in those 7 days because I was seeing myself on the big screen for the very first time. I was very excited. But then, sometimes there were 20 people, sometimes 5 or 1 or 2, that really broke my heart.
I am as curious about my daughter's acting debut as the rest of the world. I think Alia has got the best possible debut under the biggest banner. But it's not going to be easy for her to go from the first to the second film smoothly.
The first film is very important, and one needs to choose the right kind of debut project. I also think the second film is equally important, as it needs to be a notch higher.
In 'Poster Boys,' I played a character that no one would have thought that I could portray. The film helped me focus on work, and I worked so hard on it that even though it didn't do well, I didn't let it bring me down.
When you're lucky enough to have a good film made of your novel - and 'Never Let Me Go' is, believe me, a heartbreakingly good film indeed - you get wonderfully talented individuals each focusing on their special area.
Most people with a big idea, great talent and/or something to say don't get lucky at first. Or second. Or even third. It's so easy to conclude that if you're not lucky, you're not good. So persistence becomes an essential element of good, because without persistence, you never get a chance to get lucky.
'Alien' is a C film elevated to an A film, honestly, by it being well done and a great monster. If it hadn't had that great monster, even with a wonderful cast, it wouldn't have been as good, I don't think.
For me, a film is a film, and I just want to be part of good stories to grow as an actor.