American actor Leonardo DiCaprio, who is dating model Bar Rafaeli, says he wants to start a family but will do it in the years to come because his "biological clock isn't ticking yet".

"Do I want to be a father? Yes, but I think I have a few more years. That said, I don't think I need to have children to play a father in movies. This feeling is in me, I understand it completely," contactmusic.com quoted him as saying.

"In my private life, I still have time to become a dad and I've no desire to rush. Someday a family is going to happen. But right now, I'm just very happy doing what I am doing.

"I'm not that old, my biological clock isn't ticking yet. I'd like to leave it to fate if and when I'm going to be a father. A part of me has too many professional plans to even seriously consider it. Though, when I see the children in my family, the idea of having children doesn't seem too far-fetched."

DiCaprio also said that he does his best to keep his personal life from the public so that his career wouldn't be devalued.

"I want to be an actor just like my role models. Robert De Niro, for example. Being discreet in his private life has allowed him to be even more credible in different roles on the big screen," he added.