Perizaad, the young Indian starlet all set to rule the Bollywood

           It's a little difficult to make sense out of her jet-speed sentences because words flow in a torrent when Bollywood's latest sensation Perizaad Zorabian speaks. But within that spontaneous spirit lies a lot of determination to make the best of what comes her way. Life has changed for the actress at the moment, thanks to showman Subhash Ghai and his recent production "Jogger's Park", in which Perizaad received rave rewiews for her histrionic skills. "Jogger's Park", as its name suggests is an offbeat movie, set in a park in film capital Mumbai, where a young and single woman portrayed by Zorabian falls in love with a man old enough to be her grandfather.

          With her Bachelors in Commerce and MBA degrees from the United States, Zorabian always thought that she would handle her father's poultry farm business. A course from the prestigious Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute later, acting was all that Perizaad wanted to do. Convincing her parents for this career choice, was, however, an uphill task for the young actress. "In terms of family, the only problem I really faced was they could not understand why if I had an MBA, and why if I am academically inclined, why would I like to be an actress? They were scared and fearful, like any parents would be, about the casting couch, an actor's life is so insecure, there is so much desperation. Would I do something to meet my ends? Because my entire journey as an actor has been one step at a time, I have not got overnight success, they know I have worked very hard, and it has come slowly. So I think it has also given them time getting used to the fact, that I am an actress, and they are really proud of me," said Zorabian, while inaugurating a jewellery store in New Delhi.

          Buoyed by the success of the film with unusual storyline, Zorabian is all set for even more challenging roles. Her future projects include "Morning Raga", where she plays a Carnatic singer, and "Arranged Marriage", shot entirely in New York. After an impressive debut in Nagesh Kukunoor's "Bollywood Calling" with thespian Om Puri, Zorabian has evolved as a performer who is embracing disparate nuances of acting with every role. From playing Rahul Bose's love interest in "Mumbai Matinee", to a vane, obsessive actress in Tanuja Chandra's commercial venture "Stardust", Perizaad Zorabian has made Bollywood her calling.

Dec 6,  2003