I Remember Sitting In School

I Have Always Let The Lack Of Indian Actors In The Industry Drive Me, Not Hold Me Back. I Remember An Agent In L.a. Telling Me A Few Years Ago That An Indian Actor Wouldn't Ever Make It In Hollywood, But My Ethnicity Has Helped Me.

When I Started Out In The '90s, There Were Not Many People Of Color Writing, Directing And Producing - Hence, The Roles For People Of Color Were Few And Far Between. There's Still Few Roles In England [where She's From].

It Was The Success Of 'bend It Like Beckham' Which Got My Name Out There. 'a Mighty Heart' Also Helped.

My Mother Wanted To Be A Teacher When She Was Young, And My Father Didn't Approve Of It, So She Fought Very Hard To Become One. And She Did It. So When I Said I Wanted To Become An Actress, My Mother Was Very Supportive. She Always Said To Me, 'there's No Such Thing As 'can't.

Luckily My Parents Were Not Against My Ambition, They've Always Been Very Supportive. But They Were Adamant That I Went To University First.