--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As an actor, we can only do what the…" description: "\"As an actor, we can only do what the director wants. Only the director has a vision of the entire film.\" — Mohanlal" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4a/mohanlal-5702_actor_as-an-actor-we-can-only-do-what-the-dire_2879237.jpg" --- # As an actor, we can only do what the director wants. Only… ![“As an actor, we can only do what the director wants. Only the director has a vision of the entire film.” quote by Mohanlal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4a/mohanlal-5702_actor_as-an-actor-we-can-only-do-what-the-dire_2879237.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4a/mohanlal-5702_actor_as-an-actor-we-can-only-do-what-the-dire_2879237.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4a/mohanlal-5702_actor_as-an-actor-we-can-only-do-what-the-dire_2879237.jpg) > “As an actor, we can only do what the director wants. Only the director has a vision of the entire film.” [Mohanlal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohanlal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An actor follows the director’s vision, as the director oversees the entire film’s direction. **In simple terms:** Actors follow the director’s overall vision. Key Takeaway Align with the director’s vision. Themes collaboration hierarchy creativity film production Mood reflective professional Type practical inspirational When to use this quote - movie sets - theatre productions - creative projects Key Concepts artistic direction team dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance personal expression with direction? - When is it appropriate to suggest changes? A Different Perspective Actors may have limited creative input. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Director](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/director/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Vision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vision/) ## Related quotes > [I'm not really a guy who wants to be a director, anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/i-m-not-really-a-guy-who-wants-to-be-a-director-anyway/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [Accept it or not, every star, actor, and director wants to work on larger-than-life films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-charan/accept-it-or-not-every-star-actor-and-director-wants-to-work-on/) [Ram Charan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-charan/) > [There are lots and lots of good actors out there, and often it's just luck if what you bring to the table syncs with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosamund-pike/there-are-lots-and-lots-of-good-actors-out-there-and-often-it-s-just/) [Rosamund Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosamund-pike/) > [Every actor or director has their ups and downs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohanlal/every-actor-or-director-has-their-ups-and-downs/) [Mohanlal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohanlal/) > [I have always believed that an actor cannot afford to have a favorite genre. He must excel in every kind of film and fit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manoj-bajpayee/i-have-always-believed-that-an-actor-cannot-afford-to-have-a-favorite/) [Manoj Bajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manoj-bajpayee/) > [In today's jet age I think if any producer or director wants to take me in their films they can easily connect with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pooja-batra/in-today-s-jet-age-i-think-if-any-producer-or-director-wants-to-take/) [Pooja Batra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pooja-batra/) > [No producer wants to lose money and no director wants to make a bad film. I don't think those things apply to my films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harshvardhan-kapoor/no-producer-wants-to-lose-money-and-no-director-wants-to-make-a-bad/) [Harshvardhan Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harshvardhan-kapoor/) > [You can be playing a line some way and the director wants you to change that, or you can disagree. But I always think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/you-can-be-playing-a-line-some-way-and-the-director-wants-you-to/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [I am a fan of all genres. My big thing is to serve the purpose of the script and what the director wants. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-crews/i-am-a-fan-of-all-genres-my-big-thing-is-to-serve-the-purpose-of-the/) [Terry Crews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-crews/) > [That can be undersold, I think, the importance when you're trying to do something good is that everybody understands the director's vision, everybody believes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-todd/that-can-be-undersold-i-think-the-importance-when-you-re-trying-to-do/) [Suzanne Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-todd/) > [I look at the script first and who's directing it and then talk to the director to find out what his vision of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-grillo/i-look-at-the-script-first-and-who-s-directing-it-and-then-talk-to/) [Frank Grillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-grillo/) > [Every actor, director, and producer want all their films to do well. So you choose the role carefully, listen to the script, and work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohanlal/every-actor-director-and-producer-want-all-their-films-to-do-well-so/) [Mohanlal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohanlal/) > [I am completely a director's actor. If the director gives me the liberty and freedom, then I give my inputs. Otherwise, I just follow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manisha-koirala/i-am-completely-a-director-s-actor-if-the-director-gives-me-the/) [Manisha Koirala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manisha-koirala/) > [Theater is very much the world I'd like to get back to, particularly in New York, both as an actor and director.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-alexander/theater-is-very-much-the-world-i-d-like-to-get-back-to-particularly/) [Jason Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-alexander/) > [For me, once you do a job as an actor then it's the director, producer and editor's job to decide what is best for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackky-bhagnani/for-me-once-you-do-a-job-as-an-actor-then-it-s-the-director-producer/) [Jackky Bhagnani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackky-bhagnani/) ## More by Mohanlal > [I liked the concept of 'Lucifer.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohanlal/i-liked-the-concept-of-lucifer/) [Mohanlal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohanlal/) > [I own a couple of restaurants in places like Dubai and Sharjah.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohanlal/i-own-a-couple-of-restaurants-in-places-like-dubai-and-sharjah/) [Mohanlal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohanlal/) > [Priyadarshan has directed over 84 films and more than 150 ad films. With every film, he is growing. He knows his job well; he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohanlal/priyadarshan-has-directed-over-84-films-and-more-than-150-ad-films/) [Mohanlal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohanlal/) > [I have learned to take things as they come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohanlal/i-have-learned-to-take-things-as-they-come/) [Mohanlal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohanlal/) > [Cinema has given me everything in life, and I will continue acting till the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohanlal/cinema-has-given-me-everything-in-life-and-i-will-continue-acting/) [Mohanlal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohanlal/) > [When I have something to say or share with my viewers, I turn to my blog, and even then, I make it clear that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohanlal/when-i-have-something-to-say-or-share-with-my-viewers-i-turn-to-my/) [Mohanlal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohanlal/) > [I love to take some holidays. In fact, I am a guy who wants to take a break for at least 10 days after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohanlal/i-love-to-take-some-holidays-in-fact-i-am-a-guy-who-wants-to-take-a/) [Mohanlal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohanlal/) > [Be it cinema or TV, I have always been interested in taking up challenging projects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohanlal/be-it-cinema-or-tv-i-have-always-been-interested-in-taking-up/) [Mohanlal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohanlal/) > [I have a fairly good collection of paintings, both classical and contemporary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohanlal/i-have-a-fairly-good-collection-of-paintings-both-classical-and/) [Mohanlal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohanlal/) > [Priyadarshan makes good films because he is a good writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohanlal/priyadarshan-makes-good-films-because-he-is-a-good-writer/) [Mohanlal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohanlal/) > [I don't prepare for my characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohanlal/i-don-t-prepare-for-my-characters/) [Mohanlal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohanlal/) > [In the Indian system of filmmaking, you don't plan well in advance, stick to a storyboard, or deliver only the scripted lines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohanlal/in-the-indian-system-of-filmmaking-you-don-t-plan-well-in-advance/) [Mohanlal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohanlal/) > [I was not the producer of 'Vaanaprastham' earlier. The first producers backed out when they became doubtful about the monetary benefits. I do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohanlal/i-was-not-the-producer-of-vaanaprastham-earlier-the-first-producers/) [Mohanlal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohanlal/) > [In developed countries, strong rules are in place to restrict sound pollution and curb its deadly effects. As law-abiding citizens with social responsibility, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohanlal/in-developed-countries-strong-rules-are-in-place-to-restrict-sound/) [Mohanlal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohanlal/) > [We tend to have so many more close shots, which compels an artist to actually put in more effort than it is required otherwise.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohanlal/we-tend-to-have-so-many-more-close-shots-which-compels-an-artist-to/) [Mohanlal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohanlal/) [Explore all 100 Mohanlal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohanlal/) ## More Actor quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) [Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As an actor, we can only do what the director wants. 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