Zoa Morani moves to the stage

By Subhash K. Jha -

March 12, 2015 - 10:16 AM IST

After making her debut in the film Always Kabhi Kabhi produced by "family friend" Shah Rukh Khan , entertainment organizer Karim Morani's daughter Zoa's career went into a slumber after her father was implicated and arrested in the 2G scam.

Zoa has now made her stage debut in Mumbai with Taj Mahal Ka Udghaatan.

When and how did Zoa become interested in the stage?

Sighs the exultant young theatre debutante, " I had some free time, and a friend was doing this theatre workshop that I decided to do along with him. The play was what followed after the completion of workshop. "

Zoa loved working with seasoned theatre actors. "Getting a chance to perform alongside theatre Actors like Vrijesh Hirjee was a mind blowing experience. Our rehearsals were the most fun part, Vrijeshji's energy can charge up a maidaan full of people. So much to learn every day."

She is also all praise for her first play's director. "Salim Arifji is such a patient director and I am so thankful to him for this opportunity because I never thought I would enjoy theatre so much, when I was performing on that stage my soul came alive. That's when I knew instantly that I want to do more of this, much more"

Zoa now wants to do more theatre. "If I get good opportunities I definitely want to explore this field further. It has made me fall in love with acting even more. A chance to live my passion. That feeling of hearing the audience laugh and clap and enjoy the performance that we are putting up, nothing in the world can match that feeling. I am addicted now." Zoa's movie career was off to a promising start but was braked by serious family problems.

She admits she was disillusioned. "It was my destiny, took a while to accept. I went through a phase but now I have taken it in my stride. It's in the past and it has made me a stronger person. My passion for acting is even deeper now, am looking forward to what my life has to offer now!"

Considering Zoa belong to a family that is extremely active in the entertainment business didn't she expect more support from within the film industry?

Zoa opts to be optimistic. "I am very grateful and thankful for the start I got. It was a great opportunity but as we all know we can be given a push in the beginning but the rest of our career we've got to build on our own and I have learnt that the hard way. My first film didn't do well. Thereafter it became hard to find good work. But I haven't given up. I love the movies too much. I have faith the right work will come when its time. I can wait. Movies is what I thrive on, a passion gifted to me by God. I most definitely and only want to pursue this path right until my last breath. Movies movies and more movies for me."

Zoa's other passion in life is yoga. She raves, "I have been practicing Ashtanga yoga with Suveer Balvi for the last two years and it has changed my perception about life, helped me to lift myself up and learn what confidence is all about, the practice is most beautiful and can only be known through your experience. It has changed me for the better, inside out. It helped me find myself. Hadn't it been for Ashtanga Yoga, I believe that I wouldn't be able to pull through this phase so easily, it has helped me to build patience, strength, courage, you name it. This yoga will give it to anyone! It's magic, another gift from God. I am deeply passionate about it. Anyone that tries it will have the same thing to say."