The story of the heroine who has worked with stalwarts like Amitabh Bachchan and Om Puri, who left Bollywood at the peak of her career and took charge of the family business worth 120 CR.
In the early 2000s, Perizaad Zorabian was one of the few actresses who gave a new identity to content-driven and English-language Indian films. After strong acting in films like Bollywood Calling, Jogger Park, Morning Raaga and Ek Ajnabee, his career was progressing rapidly. But when everyone thought that she would play a long innings in Bollywood, then she took a decision which shocked the industry. Perizad left the glamor of films and took charge of his family’s poultry business. Today she is handling a business worth crores.
Perizaad Zorabian never wanted to come to Bollywood
Perizaad Zorabian has always called herself an accidental actress. He said in many interviews that acting was never his career plan. At the age of just 8, his dream was to grow his family’s poultry brand, Zorabian Chicken. After completing her studies in Mumbai, she went to New York to pursue MBA. There he took training in acting and dance to pursue his creative interests, but his aim was to return to India and take over the family business.
Perizaad Zorabian is a gold medalist from Mumbai University.
Very few people know that Perizad is a gold medalist of Mumbai University. Apart from this, she is also a Western classical ballet dancer and has done MBA in Marketing from City University of New York. After returning to India, Perizad was learning business with her father. During this time, model coordinator Mona Rani’s attention fell on him. He suggested modeling to Perizaad and later got her an audition for director Nagesh Kukunoor’s film Bollywood Calling. Perizaad had accepted this film only as an experience, but this decision became the beginning of his acting career, in which actors like Om Puri were in important roles.
‘Bollywood Calling’ opened the doors of success
As soon as the film was released, Perizad started getting recognition in the industry. After this he worked in films like Joggers Park with Victor Banerjee and Girish Karnad, Morning Raga with actors like Shabana Azmi, Lillete Duve, Mumbai Matinee with Rahul Bose and Ek Ajnabee with Amitabh Bachchan, Arjun Rampal. Her acting ability was highly appreciated and she became a popular face of independent cinema.
An advice from his father changed Perizaad’s thinking.
Speaking on Un Covered by Suketu Shah, Perizad said that his father had told him, “Whatever path you choose, pursue it with complete honesty and dedication. I will always be your support, but whatever you do, give 100 percent.” Following this advice, she focused completely on acting and became a part of many successful films. Perizaad’s priorities changed after she got married at the age of 33 and became a mother at the age of 34. He realized that it was becoming difficult to balance film shooting, constant traveling and family responsibilities.
Perizad Zorabian’s journey from films to business
Perizad told that her husband Boman Irani (not an actor) had just said that after marriage he would like not to have to travel frequently. After this, Perizad decided to give priority to the family. At the same time his father was expanding the retail business. The discussions around packaging and branding gradually brought Perizad back into the company’s operations. She actively contributed to the business even during her pregnancy, visiting farms and participating in many important decisions.
Today she is handling a business worth Rs 120 crores.
Perizad is one of the key faces of Zorabian Group today. According to reports, the company employs around 700 people and its annual turnover has reached around Rs 120 crore. Despite leaving Bollywood, he achieved great success in a different field and proved that the second innings of his career can be equally brilliant.