From being a popular VJ on television to being a part of the trend setting film Delhi Belly , Shenaz Treasurywala has come a long way. Actor, television anchor and writer, she likes to juggle many roles. Apart from producing and hosting the travel show Culture Shock on Discovery Travel Channel in the U.S, she also appears in an American soap. She will also be seen in a new film Main Aur Mr. Right along with television actor Barun Sobti who is known for his role in Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon? Shenaz talks about her latest flick which is a romantic comedy.
“My character Alya is a perfectionist. Every hair of hers is in place. She works hard but makes sure she has only the best — clothes, shoes, bags. Her home is impeccable. She is a classy girl who is smart and talented. But she is inherently unhappy. She can’t find ‘the one’ and is lonely, forever looking for ‘Mr. Perfect.’” In fact, she admits that no matter what women may say they still believe in finding “the one” including her. “Life is all about relationships. And I like to pick movies that are true to life and that I relate to,” she adds.
Talking about her chemistry with Barun Sobti who is a television heartthrob she says, “He’s one of my favourite co-stars till date. I think we have a good on-screen chemistry and have developed a friendship too!” Her association with the debutant director Adeeb Rais can be traced back to her MTV days. “The director is fresh, new and very young. He used to write letters to me on MTV. He is just 22 and to be honest I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t alarmed at that first but the script is so fresh and fun and he has proved to me he’s more than a 22-year-old kid. I'm enjoying working with him,” she says.
Incidentally it is also her birthday on June 29 however, she will be spending her birthday at work. “We are in production for Main Aur Mr. Right and things are going in full speed. It’s a round the clock schedule with absolutely no breaks at all. It’s been a few years since I worked on my birthday and maybe it’s good luck. Hopefully, it means, I will be working all through the year. So, all my friends will just have to drop in at the shoot,” she says.
Whether it’s her role in Delhi Belly or Radio , it is the quality of the script that motivates her. Though best remembered for a cheerful and carefree personality on television she has made a conscious effort to steer away from getting typecast. “Script is everything. Also when there's something meaty or challenging. For example in the soap that I work on in America ( One Life to Live where she plays a recurring role as Rama Patel) I play a femme fatale — crazy, sexy, naughty manipulative girl with a heart of gold. Now isn’t that a contradiction,” she says.
“In Main Aur Mr Right too, I’m not all that sweet. I’m done with playing sweet. I like to play sassy characters with some shades of grey,” she adds. Apart from acting, she also loves writing. For the film Luv Ka The End she wrote the screenplay and is looking forward to writing many more.
“Thought the MTV image would stick with me forever, but it hasn’t. People see me more as an actor these days. Though I miss hosting shows and am good at it. I would love to host once again!” she says.
