A birthday demands a breather, some we-time with family and close friends, and a t2 chat. Over to Mumtaz Sorcar, who turns a year younger today.

Happy birthday! What are your birthday plans?

It’ll be a quiet one with friends and family. I’ll step out in the evening with my friends.

Do you have a birthday ritual?

I get lots of extra ‘aador’ from everybody on this special day. I lap it up like crazy. Most of the time I’m shooting on my birthday. I like it that way. After a very long time, I’ll be at home on my birthday and not shooting.

Do you have a birthday wish?

I hope to ace my craft to such a limit that everybody would go ‘wow’. To do that, it requires a lot of hard work, which I am gladly willing to do, and I am doing. I wish that I become a stellar performer just like my father.

What’s your fave birthday memory?

Every birthday has been memorable. I love to receive gifts. I love to get spoilt. Receiving flowers and cutting cakes start early, from the previous day itself. People start sending gifts. I’m most excited to see what my family is giving. Everyone has their own little unique way. I really look forward to that. Receiving and opening gifts is a memorable moment.

What was the meaning of a birthday for you, say 10-15 years ago?

It meant the same thing as it does right now. I take it as another day but I also want to be made to feel special. I am a workaholic and I love what I do. That is the gift I give to myself. It makes me feel good, it feels like I am creating something... that is a gift I give to myself. It is a day that marks our experiences... we grow mature and become hopefully a better person.

Do you set goals for yourself on your birthday?

I keep telling myself, ‘You’ve come this far but there are miles and miles to go. Don’t lose focus, stick to your game. Keep at it.’ I keep telling myself that. I think of all the things that have happened and how far I have come. The good and bad things. At the end of the day, we all want to be better human beings... have a life which has a purpose. I am a performer and an entertainer. I would always want to create something new and give the world some kind of creativity. I wish that my creativity never runs dry. That I can always create something or the other... become a better performer. I thank my parents for this day, for gifting me my life. Every day I feel blessed to be born in this family and be a part of this house. At the same time, it gives me added pressure too. There are lots of responsibilities, and lots of boxes that need to be ticked. I hope that I keep at it and achieve my ultimate goal someday. That’ll keep me moving and keep my fire alive.