Quotes

When asked if there was a special man in her life: "Of course there was. I'm a normal woman. I may be a nice maiden. But I'm certainly no ice maiden."

When asked if she missed having a family of her own: "There was a time when I did. Now, when I see so many marriages on the rocks, I feel I'm better off unmarried. So many couples are together because they have no choice."

Explaining her decision to stop acting in films: "No more bhabhi or mother roles for me. I can't bear to see myself sobbing for some undeserving male who's out busy fighting the goons while I make his favourite dishes in the kitchen. I'd rather be out there doing all the 'dishum dishum'."

Her respect for non-Indian films: "At least they are focused, compact and have emotions. No dhishum dhishum or five songs just to move the negligible storyline. . .I wish [Indian] films today were not copies of foreign film. There are good Hindusthani topics to pick from."

I share my birthday with that other far, far greater Gujarati, Mahatma Gandhi. But unlike him, I was anything but a peace ambassador. Whenever I entered the studio everyone would run for cover.

Today's songs are not very melodious. When you have a romantic song how can you have 100, 200 boys and girls dancing behind, where do they come and go, it looks very funny to me. Also the way of picturising a romantic song has lost its meaning. I may be totally wrong, but when we had these romantic songs, there was a story to tell in that song, whereas right now there are all exercises and aerobics going on.

[on whether she regretted not having a husband and children] I don't think so. There was a time when I did want to get married. I used to love children, I still love children. But now I feel that I am happy I am not married and don't have kids because I don't think I would have been able to cope up with them.

[commenting on the lasting popularity of her film "Teesri Manzil" (1966) in 2012] It was a hit film. It had beautiful music. And it was a fun film. It was fun working because I think Mr. Vijay Anand was one of the most fantastic directors we ever had.

I enjoyed working with all these directors and it's difficult to pinpoint any one of them. But I enjoyed working with Mr. Vijay Anand because technically he used to make fabulous films. His camera-work was absolutely mind-blowing. The way he used to shoot, the way he used to take his shots was fabulous.

Nobody can gauge the public's mind. I can say this from my experience. I backed and distributed a film called Rakhi Aur Hathkadi (1972) thinking it will be a big success but it could not last even five days at the box office.

[In 2015, on whether the never-married actress felt the societal pressure to be married] Naturally, all mothers want their daughters to get married. My mother [Sudha Parekh] also tried to find a groom for me. However, it wasn't destined. Everyone convinced her that it is not destined for your daughter to get married. So just forget it. She had that regret...Divorces are so common that who knows whether my marriage would have lasted or not. One gets scared even thinking of a marriage.

[In 2017, the never-married actress telling younger unmarried female interviewers about her views on marriage] I think one should get married, because in the later years, you need some companionship. It's just that if you have somebody who can look after you, who can care for you., who can love you. that you miss out.