Q: It looks like there's a hung parliament in Bihar. Are you happy?
A: Oh yes. I canvassed and attended several election meetings in the state, so I've contributed to the changed scenario in Bihar. Do you have any idea what long speeches I had to give under gruelling circumstances? I think I did well for myself!

Q: Lalu Yadav claims you're a fan of his, and vice versa.
A: I think he's trying to divert attention from the purpose of my visit to Bihar by talking rubbish about me being his fan and he being my air-conditioner. He's a very clever man.

Q: Almost everything you do turns to gold. Hopefully your TV serial Kamini Damini too will work....
A: Yes, but I don't know how the public has taken to it. I took it on while I was dubbing for Ravi Chopra's Baghban. He tempted me with a double role on television, and I got carried away. But I'm not enjoying the experience. It's too much work for me. There are too many things demanding my attention.

Television requires more hours and more concentrated labour than cinema. I'm the wrong person to be on TV.

Q: How could they pair you with Pankaj Dheer?
A: Aur kaun kaam karega mere saath TV serial mein? Amitabh Bachchan? Amitji TV serial kyun karenge mere saath? I don't think audiences want to see film stars on TV.

The medium doesn't work for us, yet they continuously make the same mistake of casting big-screen stars. I think stars should stay as far away from television as possible.

Q: How has your stint in Parliament turned out?
A: Very fruitful, very fulfilling. I'm as excited as a schoolgirl when I'm attending Parliament. Being here has helped me tap into new facets of my personality.

Q: You mean you can now address huge crowds?
A: That was never a problem. I can easily talk to 10 to 15,000 people. They're all fans and they are very well behaved. Contrary to popular perception, the people of Patna are so sweet and innocent. I was very touched.

When I told them they had a women chief minister and yet the women of Bihar were unsafe, you know what they said? "Aap ban jayiye chief minister." How sweet!

Q: Dharamji isn't as comfortable in politics as you are.
A: No, he isn't. I've advised him to quit politics if he doesn't like it. There's no point in doing anything half-heartedly. He has a lot of time on hand now. He can use it to do what he enjoys doing.

Q: What was he doing in that appalling film with Mallika Sherawat?
A: What to do? He enjoys acting. Now I think he'll be doing a film with both his sons. He wants me to find a good script for him. He wants to be in cinema, not politics.

Q: Does your younger daughter want to act?
A: She gets lots of offers, but Ahana isn't interested in acting. She wants to be behind the camera.

Sometimes she says she wants to go into direction, cinematography or scriptwriting. She wants to be part of Indian films for a global audience. I've advised her to assist someone like Gurinder Chadha.

Q: You sound like you've become your daughter's secretary.
A: (Laughs). That's what children do to you. Life is hectic for me. I don't even have time to breathe. I need time for myself now. Sometimes, I feel the need to be alone. I dream of going away to the Himalayas.