What I like about India is the fact that we are still a very emotional people.

I am proud that on one side there is the US, the most powerful nation in the world, which has not let a woman come to power. Here we have a democracy that gave us a female prime minister. People take her name with respect.

I like the fact that there was a Mahatma Gandhi in this country, who showed the world that you can get freedom by non-violent means. These are milestones that are yet to be achieved by the West.

I dislike the way we take our freedom and democracy for granted. The average Indian needs to become politically responsible. If, in your municipality you feel the garbage is not being taken care of, the water supply is all haywire, roads are not properly maintained or are being wrecked every second or third week, take it up with your local government.

This is what I do.

I refuse to pay bribes. Even before, when I was not acting as Tulsi [in the hugely popular television soap Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi], I refused to take part in propagating corruption.

Democracy is about living your life your own way, on your own terms be it as a housewife or as a working woman or both. Today women are backed by the Constitution to take personal decisions. This is a big thing and something you realise only when you see a nation where women are not given this freedom.

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I have no idea where today's generation will take India. The fact is that almost every Indian has become disillusioned; we've given up.