How would you describe your career till now?

It has been an exciting journey. There have been no boring or dull moments. True, there have been ups and downs but then tell me of any life which has been without its vagaries. Life is not life without all the glorious moments and life is also life with all the moments which have been painful and have caused hurt. I have taken life as it has come to me, with all its colors and shades, with all its moods and moments. I have experienced every moment of life and I think that is what life is all about, making the best of every experience which comes with life and living.

But how do you see the balance? Have the good times been more than the bad times?

I have never tried to balance or measure or count life. I have lived life the way life has come to me. I have taken whatever life has given me and I have given whatever I can to life and this mutual agreement between life and me goes on and will go on whether I am in films or out of films. It is a life long agreement.

Do you think life could have been better?

I frankly don't think about life. I live life, I feel life, and I love life. I think all the good things have happened to me. Life could have been worse but it has been kind and good and has grown better with time and the various experiences and challenges I have faced. I am happy with the way I have lived life and will never ever complain about what life has done or not done for me.

But there are many of your admirers who feel you could have achieved much more and that you did not make the best use of all the opportunities that came your way?

I am extremely thankful to all my admirers who think so kindly about me after all these years. They may be right in their thinking about me but then I have lived life according to the dictates and decisions taken by my own conviction and with all my soul or my conscience or my inner voice, call that power whatever it is. And I am responsible for every decision that I have taken.

Do you ever regret the mistakes you have made?

No, I don't regret anything what has already happened and is a part of the past, but I have certainly been very keen and obedient student of life. I have always tried to learn from my mistakes. I have succeeded at times and failed at other times, but that is all what makes life what it is.

There was a time when you were right there, right on top and you were even considered to be the next number one?

I have never thought or worried about the numbers game. Yes, I know that I had reached a point when I could aim for the sky and get hold of it. But there is something called destiny which plays its part in every human being's life. Things did not work out the right way even though I played some of the most significant roles played by actresses of my generation. I did not make it to the very top but I have never been unhappy about it. Whatever has to happen happens, you keep doing your work to the best of your ability and then let the results of your work speak for you. That is a belief I have grown up with it. It is a belief which helps in facing times of crisis.

Do you ever think that your personal life, all the turmoil in your life as painted by the madmags and certain so called reliable sources played their part in hindering your progress as actress?

First of all I must say that most of the stories about my personal life are the creations of some very fertile minds which take vicarious pleasure in playing with the lives of people. I am not saying that I am a nun, a saadhvi or a saint. I am human. I have my own strengths and weaknesses. I feel my strengths are stronger than my weaknesses. But there are some people who find pleasure in making capital of my personal life which I feel is none of their business. I know I am a public person but there are limits to which people can go to attack a person. I feel they have been cruel most of the time when they have thought about me. If you ask me I know what my real life has been like and I am not guilty of doing anything that can harm anyone. All that happens in life is not planned and all that can happen even the next moment is not in my hands. I never let the negative forces take away the state of happiness I am in every time I find true happiness. There have been cases where some aspersions cast on my character have created problems in my career and my work but I have become a master in taking all that in my stride.

What happened to your ambitious plans of becoming a producer?

I tried, but luckily I realized production was not for me. I have given up all the ambitions I had to produce films which I felt could make a big difference to the industry.

There was talk about your following your grand father and father getting into active politics in Nepal?

I am not cut out for politics. I have campaigned for my family whenever there are elections in Nepal. That is my only contribution to politics.

What happened to the film in which you were to play Mrs. Indira Gandhi?

I will be very happy if you tell me. I don't know what has happened to a film I was eagerly looking forward to, especially because of the character I was to play. How wonderful it would be to play Mrs. Gandhi but…

Where does Manisha Koirala the actress stand today?

I am at peace with myself, finally. I am taking greater care in whatever I plan to do now. I am busy doing some small but very meaningful films I still have many unfulfilled dreams and there are many which I know are waiting to take birth. Let me see where destiny which has brought me so far will take me from here. I am at a very crucial stage of my life and I want to make the best of it because I know and believe that there is only some one very foolish or stark mad can run away from this reality. It is my promise to myself to make the best of the rest of my life without thinking of the consequences.

Someone told me you are talking of taking sanyaas.

I have been going through such phases but I have still to take a firm decision. Let the world not be surprised if I do.

But you are playing the leading role in your friend, Deepti Naval's first film as a director?

Yes, I am. Deepti is the only true friend I have in the world and if she asks me to do her film I will go all out and even give up everything to do a film for her. It is very difficult to find genuine, human and good as good can mean friends in this heartless and soulless world.