121 Quotes by Mira Nair

I like to be unabashed, which is an Indian trait, both emotionally and visually. It's important to have a circus to play with.

I guess that would be Indian, in a way. We are used to no privacy. We are used to a lot of people in a room, sleeping on mattresses.

But if I have an obsession at all, it is with hands. I love hands and I love lips. I never cast lipless actors.

I came from the school of cinema verite documentaries, which was: Do not manipulate reality as it was happening but create a narrative in the editing room.

I am at home in many cultures. I live actively in three continents and I've done that for most of my life, so I just make films as I see the world, and that happens to speak to people. I do things that I want to do.

The media do not allow us to understand the history of what led to 9/11. The knowledge of what we are living in now is not given to the American public.

I often begin movies with music in my head; it's a very important dimension to me. Not just the music itself, but how to use music in film: when and how and subtlety. I don't like to be too sweet in my stories, and I like the abrasive clang, the contrasting of sounds and cultures.

I've never sought to be on an A-list. I've done my own thing and my own thing has thankfully now brought me an audience.

They say now in America that final cut doesn't mean anything. As Harvey Weinstein said to some film-maker, 'You can have final cut. I'll open your film in Arkansas.