I try not to put anything political on the forefront of what I'm trying to do creatively. At the same time I do think it's wonderful when I hear people say that it's inspirational that I'm an Indian woman on camera. My life is very diverse and my friends are a diverse group of people.

We're living in a time when the world has suddenly discovered India because it's run out of raw material for its imagination. The raw materials for imagination are inexhaustible here.

I think they quite like me when I work because I'm one of the safer directors to back because even if my films don't bring their costs in back home once they're shown outside of India they manage to cover the costs.

I noted that people are happy here in India. When I went back home people had everything in the materialistic sense and were surrounded with abundance but they were not happy.

India is a curious place that still preserves the past religions and its history. No matter how modern India becomes it is still very much an old country.

Among the many misdeeds of the British rule in India history will look upon the act depriving a whole nation of arms as the blackest.

When the Nobel award came my way it also gave me an opportunity to do something immediate and practical about my old obsessions including literacy basic health care and gender equity aimed specifically at India and Bangladesh.

I'd like to see the health care professionals making decisions not some bureaucrat in Indianapolis working for an insurance company.

I believe economic growth should translate into the happiness and progress of all. Along with it there should be development of art and culture literature and education science and technology. We have to see how to harness the many resources of India for achieving common good and for inclusive growth.

You know I think we Indians are afraid to show and celebrate our happiness lest things change around. But I feel that it's okay to be sad and okay to show when you are happy.