When Kamal Haasan did 'Nayakan,' he had done a few roles that had him aged and demanded a lot of commitment from. He was already a veteran and a master.

Unfortunately scripts don't chase me. I chase them. I struggle, battle, discard, pick it back, struggle further, plead with it, curse it, cajole and try to be clever. But it is invariably the script that rules.

When it comes to casting for movies, it is a priority that you cast right. The guiding principle must be what is right for the movie, that is the basis you cast someone, not because so-and-so is a friend.

Films will break barriers - and good films will travel all over India.

A director is a very selfish person. For him, his film is like his baby.

I always look for genuineness. If I feel I can connect with the audience, I will try to develop it. For example, the genesis of 'Kannathil Muthamittal' was an article published in a magazine.

I liked Guru Dutt, the way he used songs and the way he shot songs. He was a class apart.

For a filmmaker, whether the film is liked, understood or appreciated counts as much as the moolah.

When I made my first film, I was arrogant and over-confident.

I have only one simple ambition when I make a film. That it should be the best I have made so far. With 'Kadal' it was no different.

I grew up on the commercial film format. I have grown up all my life watching films and they have all been mainstream commercial cinema.

My films are as much for the people as they are for me. The reception affects me, but doesn't change me as a person. That's important.

I don't believe in giving advice.

I enjoy making all kinds of films. I love action films, war films, period films, adventure films.

Each success gives me the adrenaline to move to another film.

People of Tamil Nadu are my children. The welfare of Tamil Nadu’s people is my happiness.

I ensured, people behave well around me and I became closer only to those who had good character and were good at heart.

University is the basement for the rise of talents and knowledge based developments.

I’d like to stress on one thing: if you constantly keep looking back and harping on what goes on in the past, you cannot go on, can’t do politics.