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Maharani of multiplexes

Perizaad Zorabian says her latest film has helped her achieve a stillness within herself

SINGLE AND IN CONTROL Perizaad Zorabian

Kicking off her career with Nagesh Kukunoor's Bollywood Calling, Perizaad Zorabian has gone on to become a multiplex maharani with star-making turns in Mumbai Matinee and Morning Raga. The role that fixed her in the public memory forever was as the no-nonsense working girl - Jenny - in Jogger's Park. "I still have people coming up to me and saying they loved me in that film."

Now people are also talking of her turn as Nikasha in Ek Ajnabi, her maiden foray into mainstream cinema. "A lot of the credit for Nikasha should go to Apu (director Apoorva Lakhia). I feel with Ek Ajnabi I have achieved that tehrav (stillness), you know a kind of centring. I do not play a regular Hindi movie mom in the film. Everyone told me I was finished, accepting a mother's role. That I would not have anything to do in an Amitabh Bachchan film, also that I should take my mother or secretary along for the outdoor shoots as you never know what happens out there," Perizaad arches her eyebrows. "That month in Bangkok was a blast and I was pampered beyond belief!"

Perizaad waxes eloquent about Big B: "He is genuinely a super person. He holds your hand through tough parts but lets you do your thing. He is the kind of person who will be present for over-the-shoulder shots to give you the reaction. You know he would call me `Strassu baba' because I went to the Lee Strasburg Acting Studio in New York. He would say: `Arrey Apu yeh Strassu baba kya keh rahi hai!'" Next on Perizaad's platter is the mother of all biggies, Nikhil (Kal Ho Na Ho) Advani's Salaam-e-Ishq. "This is the first time I am attempting comedy. I told Nikhil I cannot do it but he says I will rock. There are six tracks and I am opposite Sohail Khan. That's all I can say. I have even signed a non-disclosure agreement!"

Then there is Moonlight opposite Shekhar Suman, which Perizaad describes as "a kind of sequel to Jogger's Park. I play Radhika who is an out-of- work actress. A tarot card reader says her luck would change when she meets the man of her dreams and she meets Shekhar Suman at an audition and is convinced that he is the man. It is a bitter-sweet love story."

Perizaad insists her choice of hatke se roles is not reverse stereotyping. "I do roles I believe in. I am stubborn that way. Even if I know no one is going to watch a particular film, it is okay as long I believe in it. That's why I renovated the family restaurant, Gondola. There is always a back-up."

The tehrav that Perizaad has achieved has also revealed the need for that special someone in her life. "I feel the void now. When I started out in films, I was coming out of a relationship. I called it off because I was not sure what I wanted. Then it was all about proving yourself, all about I, me, myself. Now I am more secure as an actress. But I am not emotionally frivolous and need to be swept off my feet."

Oyez all red-blooded males, the lady is single and ready to mingle, so trot out the moonlight and roses!

MINI ANTIKAD CHIBBER

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