Nicolas Cage is tired of holding the gun to entertain people. In an e-mail interview to TOI, the Hollywood star gives a peek into his life and unconventional behaviour — like buying a fake castle to changing hissurname.

Have you ever been to India or watched any Indian movies? Is there any Indian director/actor you might have heard of whose movies inspire you? Do you plan to ever come down to India for a holiday?
I have never been to India, but have read about the country. Unfortunately, I haven't seen a single Indian movie. So, I can't really comment on it. I know and have met people of Indian authenticity, like Deepak Chopra and his son, Gotham Chopra. Due to my busy schedule, I can't plan a trip to India right now, but that is one destination on my list of things-to-do.

How restless are you as an actor since you are constantly juggling between doing mainstream Hollywood movies and Indies?
Restless... Well, I'd say that I began in this industry by being misunderstood. I wake up feeling misunderstood, but now I have come to terms with it. Naah... I am just joking! I am not really restless, but, yes, there is always this want to do more. I juggle as much as I can handle and not beyond my strength. I am sure you know that for the longest time, I was tagged as the action hero and nothing else. I never got up to say that yes, I want to be tagged in this manner or no I don't want to be tagged in this manner. I would feel trapped if I am asked to be stuck in a monotonous routine.

Having been in the profession for so long, has there ever come a time when you felt creative fatigue? Have you felt bored at the thought of doing "another movie that might mean awards/appreciation but what else?"
The only thing so far I have gotten tired of doing is out and out action movie. I really got tired of holding the gun and entertaining people. I don't mind doing it once in a while but one after the other was something I was not very enthusiastic about. This is when I started doing movies like "Knowing". Sci-fi or fantasy movies or just a movie like "City of Angels" made me relax and enjoy the craft more.

You had once said that if mankind colonized another planet, "scientists and farmers" and not "actors" would be among the "the select few on the rocket". If such is the priority status of actors/stars, why then do stars have airs?
I sometimes feel that actors and their profession have been taken pretty lightly. The term 'stars' might add some air to it, but at the end of the day, we all work very hard to do what we do. As far as actors/stars having airs is concerned, I only take air in the form of oxygen to live. Can't help how human beings function. Rest to each his own air.

From having an octopus as a pet and flushing off your aquarium fish down the toilet to buying a fake castle in Los Angeles and auctioning a collection of more than 400 vintage comics for over $1.6 million, why such unconventional behaviour?
Okay, correction here: I never flushed the fishes down the toilet. I would never do that to any animal!!! If I am not wrong, that was Mary Roach, a journalist (who reported this). I have a pet octopus because my son, Weston, likes it and so do I. Yes, I do have a fake castle in LA, but again this is something that I did for my son. Comics, I have loved forever. They are like myths, legends and mythologies. I don't do all this to get attention. I am not 20 anymore. It was way back then when I wanted to make a rock 'n' roll kind of image for myself. Now it is all about doing what I love and being who I am.

You dropped your family surname of Coppola because you wanted to be judged by your own merit and not that of your director uncle, Francis Ford Coppola. Why did you decide to adopt the surname of comic book hero Luke Cage? Have you ever felt that changing the surname might also have meant disrespecting your family ties?
Why not Luke Cage? For me, he has always been the perfect superhero with imperfections — unconventional because he is an African-American. He was always surrounded by controversy but was ground-breaking. The way he talks is mighty interesting, especially the tongue-in-cheek way in which he gives back a response. He can be meaner than the bad guys, yet he is the good guy. Also, I think, he has been misunderstood by his critics. As far as changing surname and my family were concerned, I have a very understanding family. They have always had faith in my decisions and they knew that I wouldn't make an impulsive decision.

Roger Ebert had once famously said: "There are often lists of the great living male movie stars: De Niro, Nicholson and Pacino, usually. How often do you see the name of Nicolas Cage? He should always be up there...He is committed to the character with every atom and plays him as if he were him." Do you feel that you are often not given the true recognition of your talent?
Roger Ebert has always been very kind to me. Especially when he had made this statement, I remember I had goosebumps. I am pretty happy with the response I get for my work. If I were to assess my work, I might end up being too critical about it. So, I'd rather let others do it. I have been doing my work exactly how I used to. I am okay with how people want to perceive it. As long as I am still capable of entertaining my audience, I am a glad man. I like reading. I like every other human being frown, smile, feel sad and motivated. Criticism doesn't bother me. It betters me at my work and praise motivates me to do it.

In one of your recent interviews, you've said you find it quite liberating to do a fantasy. Could you please explain that in the context of doing a movie like "Season of the Witch"?
Working in a fantasy movie is definitely liberating. Liberation comes from freedom from a trapped life. And I felt very restricted doing just that one thing over and over again. This is the reason why movies like "Season of the Witch" make me happy because I get to do new things. Like for the first time, I got to learn how to ride a horse in this movie. This movie is historical, there is a string buddy film aspect to it and I am talking about the relationship amongst the boys in the movie. It has big philosophical questions about the unexplained. That makes this movie worthwhile to attempt.

You've done a lot of extreme things to get a role right, including swallowing a cockroach in a movie. Did you do any such thing for "Season of the Witch"?
I knew that if I have to get my character right, I have to get certain things in order. Otherwise the audience would never believe that I was playing a 14th century Teutonic knight. Something else that I am not going to forget is the day I had to stare at a wolf for an entire day. Trust me, I was really scared. I had a real wolf snarling in my face a foot away. A few things did flash in my mind — that I was going to lose my face and was going to get bitten. It got to me. So, I can safely say that I am not going to forget all of this in a hurry.

"Season of the Witch" also deals with black magic and witchcraft. Since these are two areas that are curiously often associated with India, will that add any special relevance to the film's release in this part of the world?
Even though this movie is based in the 14th century, if you say that black magic or occult is something that has been associated with India, then I am sure they will find something to like in this movie. I am not a preacher. So, I would rather that the Indian audience decide for themselves. But, yes, I would like the movie to fare well in India for sure.