Robert De Niro is an acting genius

I have won the national award, many other awards and rewards, and have been fortunate enough to get the opportunity to work in more than 450 films. But the day I got to work with Robert De Niro is a day I will never forget. I am a huge fan of his films Raging Bull, King of Comedy, Godfather, Mean Streets, Cape Fear. The entire world is. All the actors in the world are inspired by him. Everyone in my school, all the acting teachers were so impressed that I was doing a film with de Niro.

    When I met him for the first time, I was taken aback by how different he looked until I realised he looks different because he has worked every detail on his look for the film. In that moment, I realised there is a huge contrast between us when it comes to work. I believe in emotionally throwing myself into the characters' shoes and being there 100 per cent following my instinct. He approaches his work scientifically. He slows down and lives the character for real even in his day-to-day life. I have done that only during Saransh, Special Chabbis, Maine Gandhi ko Nahi Mara and Khosla Ka Ghosla. He has been selective in his work, whereas I have done (and loved doing) all sorts of roles in all sorts of films. Somewhere my respect for him and myself increased because in this contract, I found a similarity. Here were two actors working in films for all the right reasons, and absolutely and completely in love with what they were doing. There it was: A new discovery, a new thrill, a feeling of reinvention.
    I was so excited to watch him on the sets. While I don't interact with him a lot in the story, I watched him work. He is so alive in his scenes. It's remarkable and fascinating. He is very disciplined. He used to be the first to reach the sets. Everyday, I wanted to race him to reach my mark before him but each time I reached the location to find him there.
    De Niro is also considered to be extremely reserved and private and I can see why. At the same time, each time I interacted with him, he was extremely warm and friendly. You can respect him with everything you have and he still commands more. He is an acting genius. He is magical. I will always smile when I think of the fact that I have worked on a film with De Niro. It is god's gift to me for loving my job unconditionally.