I watched her as she spoke animatedly to another journalist, poised like the ballet dancer that she is, her hands contributing to her expressions. In a futile attempt I tried looking away when I realised I was staring. Perizaad Zorabian has an energy and vibrance that is infectious, the way she talked and laughed and seemed so at ease with herself and with someone she had only met.
From on the screen, Perizaad the actor had always came across as a bold woman, confident of her choices. After a 15-minute dialogue she had instantly donned a hundred other roles. She became Perizaad the mother, the wife, and the chicken farmer, and in that moment she became more real, she moved beyond her larger than life persona. She was like any other woman, with the regular woman responsibilities, family, children, career, and even a battle with post baby weight.
Biting into a roll, she quietly confesses that she hasn't touched the white stuff in months and the sacrifice has paid off. She is trim, svelte and definitely does not look like mother of two. “One day after my son's first birthday I went on stage again, and I think that is the greatest pat on my back ever,” says Perizaad who was in the city for her play “Dinner With Friends” which was directed by Feroze Khan.
Her return to the stage was an emotional moment for her family, “When you are financially secure you are under no pressure to work, it gets tougher to get back. I had done it, you know, I got back and I nailed it!” she says, ecstatic with herself and her achievements. She also credits Feroze Khan for her return to the stage. “Feroze Khan is a rockstar, I really wouldn't have made the effort if it was not worth it.”
The play deals with relationships of the marital kind and a married Perizaad says that she can identify with the characters in the play, “The play is funny, it is real and because I am married I just understand it so beautifully.” Perizaad began her career in theatre with a play called “Unfaithful” and now after four years she is back from her hiatus with the stage. “If you need to get your skill back together, theatre is the place to do it, nothing tests you like theatre does.”
A Mumbai University gold medallist and a degree in Management from New York, Perizaad voluntarily chose the stage. “But over the past four years I have used my education. I contributed to Zorabian Chicks our family business and worked as a poultry farmer and we are now expanding into processed foods,” says Perizaad Zorabian, the entrepreneur, who also studied theatre at the Lee Strasberg Institute of Performing Arts.
“I have been spoiled, and have never been forced to do anything. I always did what I wanted to and chose my work according to what appealed to me.” Perizaad has made confident choices in her line of work, choices that other mainstream actors would not dare to make, choices that were devoid of clingy chiffons or choreographed group dances. “Before “Bollywood Calling” actors like me did not exist, but now there is a chance and films like “Dev D” is only pushing it ahead.”
As an actor Perizaad wanted to work all the time, but she had to switch off for a while, and she found other avenues to get involved in. “I have been able to balance it all,” she says with a content smile before she left to engage another reporter.
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