Studios are meant to be our second homes. But the pathetic conditions depress me.

It's high time our producers or the Cine Artistes' Association did something about the conditions of the studios.

Seth Studios was a dream studio. It was like a five-star hotel. Sadly, it's closed down. None of the studios have an air-conditioner. The heat just saps you.

When my cousins came visiting me, they were appalled at the conditions we worked in. There's so much glamour on the outside and so much muck within.

DISORGANISATION: Another thing that bugs me no end is the haphazard manner in which the industry operates. There's no method in the madness. More often than not, no one knows what's going on, which scene is to be shot next, which costume one is supposed to wear. What's worse is that everyone keeps passing the buck. No one is willing to take charge or behave responsibly.

The most organised units I've worked with are Yashraj films, Rajshree Productions and Mukta Arts. The others are a mess.

There's no proper delegation of work between the unit members. It's the classic case of too many hands spoiling the soup. There's no proper planning before starting a project. Most of the time there's no proper script. Dialogue is written on the sets. If only we were more organised, we'd make better films.

MAKE-UP: Okay, okay. It's integral to acting in our industry. But I still hate it. You have to look good all the time in our films.

You could be dying or depressed in a scene, but your make-up has to be perfect. It's so silly, really.

HYPOCRITES AND MANIPULATORS: There are plenty of those out here. I've seen for myself how people behave so sweetly on your face and the moment you turn your back, they go bitch, bitch.

There's no real respect here. Most people find pleasure in pulling others down. I hate such viciousness. There was this film-maker who was talking nonsense about me after his film flopped. When I heard about it I just shrugged it off. He called me up to say that he hadn't said anything nasty about me. And that he respected me a lot. Later, a common friend told me that he'd actually said every word that was printed. I was disgusted. Why vent your frustrations on me? If you've made a bad film, accept it. Learn to live with it. I don't mind if someone doesn't like me. But they should have the guts to stand by their opinions.

GOSSIP MAGAZINES: Again this is an occupational hazard. There's nothing you can do about it. The kind of stories that are written about stars is not funny anymore. It's a complete violation of privacy. And, God forbid if you refuse them an interview, the journalists get so nasty. All sorts of malicious items and articles start appearing about you.

Recently a magazine carried an article on how I didn't know how to dress, how to talk or even how to walk. Now, I'll take lessons from journos on how to conduct myself in public. I want to know just who they think they are that they can write such nonsense about stars? Most articles written in gossip rags smack of vengeance.

How can they write about our morals? They aren't exactly pure as driven snow themselves to cast aspersions on our characters.

The number of times I've been married off isn't funny. Every time I go to America, I'm supposed to be seeing someone. One journalist even had the guts to tell me that they'd keep writing in the hope that someday it'd come true.

SECOND BILLING TO HEROINES: Why is the hero given so much importance? A hero on his own cannot deliver a successful film. Why don't the film-makers realise that it's a good product that runs? Otherwise how do you explain a hit hero giving a flop?

It irks me that a heroine is not paid on par with the heroes. Both work equally hard, then why this discrimination? But it happens everywhere. I've heard Meryl Streep complain about it, too.

I don't like the way heroines are treated like second-class citizens in the industry. I'm often asked if the casting couch exists. I can't really comment about it. If it exists, I'm sure it must be with the consent of the women. It's not as if they are being forced.

It all depends on how ambitious you are, how far you are willing to go for a role. Perhaps some do it gladly while the others are a little reluctant.

LACK OF UNITY: There are so many issues in the industry which need immediate attention. But no one is willing to take the lead. And if someone does, there are plenty to pull him down. No one sees eye to eye on any issue.

Small wonder that it took so long for the government to grant us industry status. At the anti-piracy morcha that we took to Mantralaya, hardly anyone barring a few stars like Aamir Khan and me turned up. Such apathy towards issues is sad. After all piracy affects all of us. Everyone talks big here. But no one is willing to lift a finger.

The only time everyone was united was when the gossip magazines were banned by the Cine Artistes' Association.

ILL-TREATMENT TO WORKERS: I hate units which don't treat their workers well, don't give them proper nasta and chai. I know of units which even cut their daily wages. How can you do that to poor workers? They work on daily wages. What will they eat if they aren't paid? They work so hard and that too in such appalling conditions. It pains me to see old unit hands carry such heavy equipment.

Even the stuntmen are not looked after. They aren't insured for the risks that they take. There are no proper safety measures. So many men have lost their lives doubling for stars. And there's no organisation to look after their wives and children. Why this inhuman treatment?