I need a role which has meat - Perizaad Zorabian

Comments [ 0 ] By Indra D. | 02 May 2008 | 7:13pm

The beautiful art house cinema actress, Perizaad Zorabian, is back to bang on screen after achieving a celeb motherhood. "It's very important to strike a balance between your family and work" says the elegant Parsi. Although films will continue to be her first love, she has chosen TV as the first return step. Incidentally, she had done a show called Hum Pardesi Ho Gaye, opposite Ashish Choudhary some years back...

Q. Post motherhood, what's next?
A. I am hosting Limited Edition on NDTV Good Times. This weekend lifestyle show (Sunday 9 pm) will give the viewers a glimpse of the hottest and latest brands, money can buy. Indians are no longer coy of splurging on high end goodies. The recent retail boom is indication of this confidence.

Q. How will you juggle both motherhood and work?
A. The producers are very understanding and have worked out the dates in such a way, that I will have ample time to be with my baby.
Perizaad Zorabian
Q. What would you personally like to buy among the stuff you present?
A. I love indulgence, so would choose the expensive spa treatment's with all the works. Since both Boman (husband) and me love to travel, so exotic tourist destinations are also high on our wish list.

Q. Why do you want to return to TV after succeeding in cinema?
A. The idiot box is no longer a poor cousin of the big screen. The massive exposure of this medium is attracting big stars like SRK and Salman Khan to it's fold. I, too, want to enjoy some of these mass adulations.

Q. Besides Limited Edition, what kind of other TV shows would you be looking at?
A. Anything interesting like Hum Pardesi Ho Gaye. I really liked the way that the SET show ended. Maya dumped her guy despite carrying his baby, she could not take his deceit. However, I can't think of doing Saas Bahu sagas.

Q. Reality shows?
A. Most reality shows are an insult to your intelligence. The over top responses and TRP driven games turn me off. Having said that, I do like to watch Indian Idol and Jhalak..., they have less drama then the others. Although, I would not participate in either of the above shows, I would not mind anchoring or judging them.

Q. But will the channel or production house not put pressure on you to play some natak?
A. I can never be swayed. I always do my own thing and am happy wherever life has given me. I got married when I wanted, got a baby at my own time.

Q. What about bollywood ?
A. I have 3 films in hand. First is "Breaking News", which deals with issues concerning urban life. This N Chandra film has an ensemble cast which include Parveen Dabas and Sarika. Next is Kabhi Up Kabhi Down, an out and out romantic comedy where I am acting opposite Sanjay Suri. It's a one night story of how an actress kidnaps a producer. Last but not the least, is a double role in Highway 2003. I play a struggling actress and a socialite in this murder mystery, which also stars Kay Kay Menon.

Q. What kind of roles are you looking at?
A. Post motherhood, I want to push the boundaries in cinema. Till now I have played safe. Now I want to do stuff which I personally would never think of ever doing in real life. For example, Tabu's role in Chandi Bar.

Q. You are fighting shy of main stream bollywood...
A. I would love to work with Aamir Khan or Hrithik Roshan. But I need a role which has meat and not something minuscule.

Q. What went wrong with Devaki, the film where you played a tribal girl who was solded for 5000 rupees?
A. The film had 2 distinct stories. One of Devaki and second of Nandini, a social activist, hence they need to be fused properly. But in an attempt to create drama, they played around with my scenes causing the film to loose its soul. It was a disappointing experience that such a heart breaking theme about how women, irrespective of their social status, always loose, was not presented properly.

Q. Which is your best role till date?
A. People still remember me as Jenny of Joggers' Park. But in terms of performance, it would have to be my debut film, Bollywood Hollywood. Nagesh Kukunoor got the most mature performance out of me. Kajol was an over top diva. She had an edge to her. -

--Anil Merani