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There's is a fine line between living one's truth and looking good.
Amala Akkineni
With so many public places banning pets people can't socialise their animals, which makes them more hostile and leads to unsocial behaviour.
While growing up we all did our own work' I remember, we had a sign on our bathroom door which said 'Gandhiji cleaned his own bathrooms, so must you.'
Personally, I have met many widows who've been thrown out of their homes. I had done a fund-raising event to help widows supported by Bala Vikasa group in Warangal.
I have grown up in Chennai, so I speak Tamil fluent.
My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. You are surrounded by nature - cats, dogs, birds and buffaloes everywhere.
Once when we were holidaying in Singapur, a fan did not recognise me as I had shaved my head. The fan approached Nagarjuna and asked him ferociously, aren't you married to Amala? Nagarjuna then explained to him that this lady is Amala!
Nelson Mandela, Dada Vaswani, Harsh Mander, Shabana Azmi - I admire their humanitarian work. But sadly even Nelson Mandela could not keep corruption out of his cabinet and within a year, I am told, the victims of apartheid turned into perpetrators of corruption on their own people. Greed has no boundaries of colour or country does it?
I know what it is to be a mother of sons in real life.
The day I set foot in Hyderabad, I saw an animal being hit by a vehicle. The city did not have a shelter for the bleeding animal, and I brought it home. In less than a month, our house was home to all kinds of animals - a buffalo with a broken hip, a blind mongoose, goats, dogs, cats.
Like Hyderabad you can't shoot outside in summers. Similarly, Delhi gets scorching in summers.
The discussion of animal rights in jallikattu has been misunderstood. We know that the tails of the bulls are broken, that chilly powder is rubbed into their eyes and they are forcibly fed country liquor. The animal is overwhelmed and does not know what is happening.
Yes, I am a Bengali but I am sorry I can't converse in Bengali.
I have realised the importance of finding the right nutrition for our pets.
I was at my wit's end trying to solve the world's problems. I was frustrated that I could do very little. That frustration took me to Vipassana.
I would like to clarify that the only adoption I am involved is through the Blue Cross Animal Welfare Shelter where we provide healthy and friendly homeless animals for adoption.
I do not make resolutions for New Year, but visualise and plan things.
There has to be a mutual respect and trust for any marriage to work.
Rukmini Devi was an icon for all the Bharat Natyam students at Kalakshetra. I grew up watching her at dance school and I associate her style with grace and humility - it's never the clothes, it's the persona.
As an actor, you are always looking for something different and challenging... 'High Priestess' gave me that rare opportunity.
As a 73 year old global brand, IAMS comes with a very strong legacy of tailored nutrition for pets and I am glad to be a part of the launch of a brand that shares my priorities and the needs of my pets.
I am open to taking up any interesting projects that come my way.
What I find most deplorable is cruelty of spirit - racism, casteism, and religious or social prejudice.
From Blue Cross we reach out to about 14,000 school kids every year. No matter where I go, be it a police station or a corporate office, I have some youngsters coming up to me to saying, 'madam we heard you in school.' It feels great and that's something I really enjoy doing.
Writing 'Animal Talk' column in MetroPlus gave me immense satisfaction. I quite enjoyed writing the column.
A whole generation is moving away from highly ritualistic practices into a more thinking, spiritual process. By spiritual, I don't refer to a cult or a guru. In your heart, you continue to feel the presence of people who've been dear to you even after they've left.
A story has to have several layers to sustain audience interest in each episode.
When you start off as a dancer, you don't become one overnight; you must train for more than a decade.
I don't think I am as useful as a bat is to the society.
Not many people know that I am a Bengali actually.
Everyone is born with it but, unfortunately, our society and culture are programmed to kill creativity.
I juggle so many hats that it takes something really special to convince me to get back to acting in films or TV serials.
I don't feel the need to act. But if I really like the role and it doesn't demand much of my time, maybe.
It is nice to go down the memory lane and remember who I am and what my roots are.
The animal birth control and anti-rabies programmes, which are under the threat of being altered or discontinued, need to be strengthened in order to address the issue of the stray dog menace.
It is important to sensitise children about animal behaviour as it will help develop a healthy curiosity towards nature.
I was extremely close to my mother-in-law and after she, and later my father-in-law passed away, I continue to feel their presence.
People love a good thriller that makes them sit on their edge of their seats.
I had to take a decision. Do I pursue dance, my passion, or help my mother out? The movies beckoned.
My mom is Irish. She is a poet and a humanitarian who believed in ensuring that people around her had a better life.
But being a director of a media school in Hyderabad, being actively involved in animal welfare and my personal life keep me busy all day.
Holi has always been a nightmare for me because of the dangers of synthetic colours. Eco-friendly colours are the best way to celebrate Holi.
I work with 15 organisations that deal with issues ranging from environment protection and wildlife conservation to human rights, and women's and children's rights, etc.
Also, it is futile to hold on very tight to your man as this will just kill your love for each other.
Only a niche section of parents allow their children to take up courses on film and television.
You have to be innovative and creative to make yourself employable.
There's no denying that my popularity helped me a lot.
I love saris from Shravan Kumar.
Birds and animals in the wild migrate every year to safer and nurturing pastures, leaving behind the old environment. After nurturing their young ones, they return to thrive in the old environs. I use that analogy to meditate. You migrate to your inner soul, nurture the strength, light and creativity there, and return.
I speak Tamil and Telugu better than Bengali.
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