WORLD OF INDIAN CINEMA WAS ALWAYS INTRIGUING
For Anjala Zaveri, acting was never part of the plan, as her parents weren’t keen on her having a career in films Feel blessed to have a daughter: Arpit on becoming a father again
She had to compete for her first role, literally! Anjala Zaveri being cast opposite actor Akshaye Khanna in Himalay Putra (1997), their debut film, was the result of a talent hunt across countries, in search of a fresh face.
Born and raised in England, the actor, who belongs to a conservative Gujarati family, has always been mesmerised by the glitz and glam of showbiz. “We’ve watched a lot of films on video cassettes bought from a small Pakistani shop. The world of cinema was always intriguing,” says the 49-yearold, who was spotted by Vinod Khanna when she was 16. The late actor was in search of a female artiste in England to cast opposite his son, Akshaye.
At that point, Zaveri was an aspiring model, and hence, had got a photoshoot done. But, she didn’t have the height required to be a runway model, and instead, sent her pictures to Khanna. “I landed my first interview with him. Some 16-17 models had turned up, I was the only one with my father! I was so nervous during the interview that I kept my mouth shut! It was a 10-day competition... I handed over some more pictures, and later, got a callback from Vinod Khanna, saying ‘Please get Anjala’s passport ready, we are taking her to India’. Within a month or two, I left. My mum came with me,” she recalls.
However, her family wasn’t too keen on her joining films. “Even if I was going to be chaperoned by a parent, they had preconceived notions in their head,” she reveals.
Soon after Himalay Putra released, she got busy with Tamil and Telugu films, as a result of which Hindi projects took a backseat. “After Himalay Putra, I went home for a two-month break. When I returned to India, I got signed on for Tamil and Telugu films. Majority of my time was in Hyderabad and
Anjala Zaveri with Kajol in a still from Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya (1998)
Chennai, and Hindi films happened in the middle of that,” says the actor, who has also starred in Betaabi (1997) as well as Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya (1998).
Zaveri is married to actor Tarun Raj Arora, best known for playing Anshuman in Jab We Met (2007). And, offers have again started coming her way, given that her husband is in the limelight. “He did a few Hindi films, took a step back and got into hospitality. I don’t know if it is luck, but he is also doing South films now! Offers have started coming to me too, but not very exciting,” she says.
PActor Arpit Ranka is over the moon, as he became a father for the second time last week. His wife delivered a baby girl and Ranka says he is thrilled.
“Navratri pe princess ghar aayi hai. I am very happy. It is a blessing from Maa Durga. The cherry on the cake was that she was born on the first day of Navratri. My wife and I feel blessed,” he shares, adding that his older son is feeling a bit insecure as they are all taking care of the baby. Ask him if he has thought of a name and he says, “We haven’t decided, but Aaradhya sounds good.”
The actor, who has done shows like Mahabharat and Brahmarakshas 2 is excited about his work. He has worked hard to attain a new look. He lost 12kg and cut his long hair for a shorter cut. Explaining why he changed his look, he states, “An actor’s life is not easy. They need to change their look frequently. I have changed my look as I don’t want my fans to be bored. I cut my hair to a shorter style after almost 15 years. People haven’t seen me like this in so long.”
He admits that physical transformation does take a toll, mentally, too. He reveals, “I believe our body is like a temple. The weight loss happened due to my disciplined life and regular workouts. I have always adored actor John Abraham, and he is often seen in simple clothes and never shows off. I am an actor and my work is to do glamorous stuff in front of the camera, but I am a simple man.”