How much of an influence has your mother been in your life?

I am because my mother is. She makes my world go round. I can’t imagine my life without my mother. She always says that I chose her and I always feel that she chose me. She’s always there to guide and encourage me. We have a very communicative relationship and everything that I have been able to do with my life is because of my mother.

How was it to be a part of Procter & Gamble’s Thank You Mom campaign?

It’s a great initiative to make people realise how important mothers are and how necessary it is for us to thank them for what they have done for us and continue to do for us.

Given that you are so busy, do you get to spend enough time with your mother?

Absolutely! We have movie nights, we go for plays, we play Scrabble. We go on holidays together. We spend a lot of quality time together.

Do you share everything with her?

My mom is my best friend. She’s always the first to know about everything that’s going on in my heart and my head. I can’t really keep anything from her because my face gives it away instantly. She knows how to read me.

What’s the best piece of advice she has given you?

She’s always told me to be myself. That’s a piece of advice that I have always followed and it has never let me down. Yes, there are tough times… there are times when things don’t go my way… but I never let go of who I really am.

Is there anything your mother says she has learnt from you?

She thinks that I am remarkably giving and that is a quality she wishes she had more of. And I think it’s wonderful of her to say that because I feel that if I have that quality in the first place, it’s because my mom has instilled it in me with her upbringing and values.

How did you celebrate Mother’s Day (May 13) this year?

On Sunday, I was on a flight but there was a little surprise waiting for her nevertheless. And, of course, I have completed my first Bangla film (Pratim D. Gupta’s Paanch Adhyay) and that’s a gift for my mom (who is Bengali) this year.

You apparently got a Mother’s Day card from the two cheetahs you adopted last year at the Lucknow Zoo!

Yes, it was incredible. I fund their welfare and it was adorable getting a letter from my two cheetahs. I was so happy!