- [on his philanthropic efforts and what inspires, in an interview in 2016] I want the foundation I started "Humans of our World" to belong to everyone. Mahatma Gandhi said, "Be the change you want to see in the world", but I modified that statement and made it about each of us UNITED. Thus, "Humans of our World: We are the change we want to see in the world". Unity is the MOST important. Boundaries, prejudices and segregations can be easily removed when we learn to focus on hearts, compassion and unity. There are more similarities than differences, let's just focus on those major similarities and unite regardless of the little differences. Once we start with the change for the better as individuals ourselves, then we can do it as groups, then the world as a community.
- [on what defines his sense of style and fashion] I don't know fashion, but I do know style. But then again I only like forever and style is forever unlike fashion which is temporary. My style and values just like me, are without limitations of time or boundaries, thus a forever classic! My style is classic.
- [in a interview on who he admires] I admire quite a few people. Some are famous, some aren't. The people I admire the most have one thing in common, and that is courage. I ADMIRE courageous people. Courage is sexy, beautiful, inspirational. Courage is beautiful. Courage is attractive. Courage is sexy. Courage has nothing to do with your body type, your looks, if you are wealthy or poor, the car you drive or the watch you wear, your fame or your power. But its so simple, if you have courage, and you are courageous, then you shine and glow, you stand out as the winner. In fact in my eyes I do not differentiate if you are beautiful or ugly based on your looks, its all to do with courage. A coward is ugly and repulsive, no matter how physically goodlooking they may be. A courageous person is truly and simply beautiful, frankly courageous ones are hot. I fall in love a little more every time I see courage. I have the utmost respect for courageous ones.
- I find a personal meaning in everything in this world. Aside from being a Global Luxury Ambassador, I am also a Philanthropist and Humanitarian which means I look at things from various different perspectives. After all, all of life is perspective. To many fashion week might be fickle and meaningless, see to me I see fashion weeks as something that unites the world in art, fashion is art. Fashion industry, Hollywood and World Cinema are capable of great things, and that has been proven. For those weeks, be it in New York, London, Paris, Milan, etc the world unites in the name of fashion/art. The designers are from all the over the world, the people invited are from all over the world, the clothes are worn all over the world. And that I love..... I love the world uniting, be it for art, fashion, sport, movies, etc and hopefully someday for politics. Especially in this current election climate where so much hate is on display, it is refreshing to see a week dedicated to celebrating talent, people and fashion, no matter where it comes from. Many of the projects I have done with United Nations and future collaborations too, we have utilized fashion industry, Hollywood and world cinema, these industries are now instrumental in helping to unite the world and make it a better place.
- [on Hollywood making the world a better place, in an interview at the red carpet premiere of Doctor Strange] I truly believe that Hollywood, World Cinema and the Fashion Industry can unite our world and make it a better place. Hollywood and Movie Studios often get a bad name for being money hungry, whitewashing, corporate monsters. But I would like to sing a different tune and highlight the fact that Hollywood and movie studios have also done great work for betterment of our world. I am proud of Disney and Marvel, Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Scott Derrickson for going to Nepal to shoot the film so soon after the earthquake that devastated the country. They could have easily chosen to film only on set in LA, but they didn't. I am all for it. My philanthropic foundation Humans of our World did extensive work in providing relief to the victims and brought positive attention and help to Nepal. The trouble with disaster areas, is that the media's attention lasts for a few weeks, Nepal's earthquake victims plight was soon forgotten, but Benedict and Marvel being there, brought attention back to Nepal and now the movie's release worldwide tells the world that the country is ready for tourism and highlights the continued plight of earthquake victims in Nepal. The country's economy depends largely on tourism. As a philanthropist who believes in a unified world, I would like to thank all of them. And I must say Nepal has been picturised in such a spectacularly beautiful way. The country is a perfectly beautiful backdrop which adds to the grandeur of Doctor Strange. Hopefully just like Nepal, Hollywood will film movies in other disaster struck areas like Italy, Haiti, etc too, while organically fitting the storyline. I love the world uniting, be it for art, fashion, sport, movies, etc and hopefully someday for politics. I will keep using my platform to shine light on the causes that need help and to the ones bettering our world.
- Today, I am lucky as I am now a global citizen. I do not believe in man-made borders and do not see them. I can tell you from first hand experience that there are more similarities between countries, religions, races, classes and cultures than there are differences. But the reason we have wars in this world and problems is due to the fact that people concentrate on little tiny differences and forget huge similarities. Instead we need to focus on similarities and encourage unity. Yes it was difficult being the new boy constantly and changing schools all the time. But I made lemonade out of all the lemons in my life and now I am a native and local no matter which country I am in, I am truly global, that is a blessing.
- Enough of complaining. Enough of wishing for a change. Enough of hoping others will change. We don't like complaining, nor do we complain, if we don't like something, we change it. We are the change we want to see in the world. And that changing the world for the better will only happen when we start with ourselves as individuals. Have courage. Stop caring about what others think, instead be the person you were born to be. You are a result of millions of years of evolution and exploding stars, you are a miracle, remember that you are pure magic and start behaving like that. Make sure during your time on this earth, you make it a better place. Say no to mediocrity. Fight for a cause and SPEAK UP. Take care of one another. Be loyal. Love, always love. Be the best version of you that you can be, have the courage to be you and do it with some style.
- Talent always shines through, after a particular show, I complimented one of the designers backstage, on his collections and he humbly told me that he had worked very hard on it. But it is about more than just working hard, most people work hard, but the true greats stand out, because of their TALENT. Talent is unmissable. I don't know women's fashion as well as Anna Wintour or Ralph Lauren does, but I can see when something is great. In fact, I don't know fashion, but I do know style. But then again I like only forever and style is forever unlike fashion which is temporary. My style and values just like me, are without limitations of time or boundaries, thus a forever classic!
- [in an interview on New York Fashion Week SS 2017] I congratulate each and every designer on pulling off fashion week. Having seen the behind the scenes, it is...... Beautiful chaos. When fashion is done right, it embodies an era, it becomes a part of a tale, a beautiful tale. It is hard for me to pick a favorite designer. Each designer and their collection, bring with them their own story, their personal tale and their personal experiences from their diverse backgrounds around the world. And that is what I love about fashion week, it is about the story of the unity of the world told through clothes and style. Be it, Ralph Lauren and his true Americana, Prabal Gurung inspired by his beautiful Nepal, Chanel pioneering liberty and delivering chic Paris, Chiara Boni's sleekness from her theatrical Italy, the dream-iness of the Marchesa duo from their iconic London, Tom Ford and his rediscovery of the classics, John Paul Ataker's Numan Nimet's Babylonian fairytale from his historical Turkey, freshness of Alex Vinash from unique Argentina, to me, it's all beautiful in its diverse way. Fashion week is more of a cultural show and I am happy to be sitting here witnessing history and eras being made.
- Movies and TV are about creating a world, influencing through a story and hopefully leaving the viewer changed for the better, and I love that. For any project that I am involved in, content and story is very important to me. I love material that has hard-hitting subjects too. Projects that enrich their audience. A few of the projects I am currently involved in, have subject matters ranging from, anti-drug abuse, anti-terrorism, war and soldiers, family and romance. I love projects that uplift, inspire and enrich, projects that have a message without being preachy. All of my projects have one thing in common, they have courageous unapologetic protagonists that are not scared to stand up for their beliefs. I love the works of Martin Scorcese, Steven Spielberg, Clint Eastwood, Leonardo Dicaprio, Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Jennifer Lawrence, Marion Cotillard, Gael Garcia Bernal, Wagner Moura and Matthias Schoenaerts. I look forward to working with each of them someday.
- [on Cannes Film Festival and choosing to go to college] Cannes had always been one of my goals and an institution I respect very much. I would have loved to direct the feature, but I wanted to go to college and instead directed a short film which took lesser time. Going to college was one of the best things I have ever done in my life. College made me understand myself better, before going to college, I thought I knew everything, but I guess I had all the words, and it was college that took those words and made them into beautiful sentences. I found my voice in college. I urge everyone and anyone, to attend college, not just for the degree but also for the experience and wisdom. Hopefully someday soon, I will be back in Cannes and this time with a feature film
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