Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali, who has shown his acting skills on the stage, says plays have purity.

"Initially, I acted for a few years in theatre. Then I also started directing (for the stage). So being a stage artist, I always feel proud that the first family (Kapoors) in the film industry originates from theatre," Ali told reporters here during Prithvi Theatre Festival

As a director, Ali says the late actor-filmmaker Raj Kapoor will inspire him.


"I love to watch all his movies as an audience. He is a great director," said the "Highway" director.

"And so whenever I am at this place...Prithvi Theatre, I feel like doing plays. Stage acting has purity and gives a great opportunity to exercise the acting quality. I always tell Deepika (Padukone) and Ranbir (Kapoor) to do stage acting," said the director, whose next film "Tamasha" stars the Bollywood actors.