Perizaad gets on stage

It's back to the basics for actor Perizaad Zorabian Irani. After four long years, this yummy mummy has made a comeback into acting with Feroz Khan's play Dinner With Friends. Perizaad, who found her return a very emotional and fulfilling experience, chats up with CS:

Curtain call
I last faced the camera as an actor in December 2006. Then, family took precedence with a lovely husband and two kids. I have never planned anything in my life and this comeback was also quite unexpected. I had loved the script of the play Dinner With Friends written by Donald Margulies.

It's a Pulitzer award-winning play, and Feroz Khan was directing it. I always wanted to work with Feroz. When I first came on stage after four years I almost had a cardiac arrest. I was so hyper that my biggest task was to stay calm and not act. But at last, the actor in me took over and we got a standing ovation. Acting is like cycling, once you learn it you will never forget it.

Surprise, surprise!
When my parents first learned about my decision to get back on stage they were a little shocked. But once they saw me performing, they felt proud. My brother was almost in tears and was head over heels about my effort in managing my house, business and the play.
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My best friend Avinash give me the biggest compliment, albeit sarcastically, that marriage and kids have made me a better actor than what I was. My husband Boman (Boman Rustom Irani) is like a backbone for me. Now I feel the decision to stay away from acting for my kids and husband has paid back.

Finding me
I did my MBA in New York, so that I could come down and help my father in his business. And I have kept my word. For me, the busier I am the more I find time to do more. Nowadays, when I know I have an entire day to finish a task, it never happens.

But when I know I have limited time, I get everything done on time. Managing kids, handling dad's business and acting keep me fully occupied and I feel I can still do more.

After marriage, it is all about putting family first. For me, my family and kids are of utmost importance and they will always be. But I want to continue to do all the things I love doing. After all, somewhere in that pyramid even I exist. It is important to retain my own sense of identity as well.u00a0u00a0

Who: Perizaad Zorabian Irani
What: Talking about her comeback
Where: Nehru Centre, Worli

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