“At the end of the day, I’m a composer. Finally, I have to deliver my music to the public. I can’t keep hiding behind a keyboard…. Facing people is like going to war for me…it’s almost like death!”
- A R Rahman, music director whose tunes rock the marquee

“Any fool can do a terrific building, given everything. Enough land, a huge budget, complete control over design. It is in working with restrictions and scanty resources that genius shows.”
- Hafeez Contractor, irreverent architect who has set his imprint on many a metropolis

“Amitabh Bachchan is just another name. What does power have to do with it? It would be a terrible day for an artiste to be completely satisfied.”
- Amitabh Bachchan, towering brand icon and the colossal ‘Big B’ of Hindi cinema

“I haven’t spent a single birthday at home since I was 12…. I missed out a lot on my childhood. I feel that it was a heavy price to pay but I have no regrets. Having achieved all the goals I set for myself as a child, I am more than happy.”
- Leander Paes, tennis ace who speaks as well as he serves

“I still don’t look upon myself as a star. Shah Rukh (Khan) and Salman (Khan) are more star material.”
- Aamir Khan, sensitive actor with a repertoire of cutting-edge roles