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TORONTO — Hundreds of NYU graduates were looking at Robert De Niro last week for sage advice. Instead, they got called a word that sounds like Fockers.

The 71-year-old movie icon told students leaving the Tisch School of the Arts they could have chosen more practical studies.

“You made it,” De Niro told graduates. “And you’re f**ked.”

De Niro, a high school dropout and Oscar winner, continued: “The graduates in accounting? They all have jobs. Where does that leave you? Envious of those accountants? I doubt it. They had a choice. Maybe they were passionate about accounting, but I think it’s more likely they used reason and logic and common sense to research a career.”

De Niro said the 1,200 graduates in front of him are different because they recognized their talents and passion for the arts.

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“When you feel that, you can’t fight it. Just go with it,” he said. “When it comes to the arts, passion should always trump common sense.”

De Niro’s 15-minute speech, which was filled with colourful language, warned graduates of the rejection they will inevitably face.

“Now that you’ve made your choice — or, rather, succumbed to it — your path is clear,” he said. “Not easy but clear. You have to keep working. It’s that simple.”

De Niro urged the next generations of actors, dancers, writers and filmmakers to keep at it.

” You didn’t get that part? Next! You’ll get the next one or the next one after that,” he said.

“I know you’re going to make it. Break a leg. Next!”

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