Actress Zoa Morani, who recently made her debut on the big screen, took a keen interest in working out only when she realised that she needed to lose all the baby fat before she started shooting for her film.
“My mom was actually the one who pushed me into being fit and eating healthy. She is very particular about her fitness and just before I started work, she really pushed me to look my best. I decided to do power yoga to lose the baby fat,” says Morani, who is now completely hooked to it.
“I started training with Payal Gidwani, a power yoga instructor. After that I started training with her husband Manish, and now I can easily say that I can’t do without my daily dose of yoga.”
Morani has, apparently, become so fitness conscious that she doesn’t miss her power yoga sessions even for a day. “While shooting, if my call time was eight, I would get up at six, do power yoga for an hour and then head to the sets.”
Though she does a little bit of cardio to keep herself fit, Zoa is not that keen on gymming. “I hate going to the gym and sometimes when I don’t feel like doing cardio, I run on the beach. That is a good substitute and works well for me,” she adds.
She recently joined a gym to increase her metabolism rate, but prefers running to gymming. She also follows a strict diet of eating eight to 10 small meals a day, but the one thing she cannot do without is her early morning cup of coffee. “I also munch on peanuts, soy-milk and dates when I feel hungry.”
Showing posts with label Zoa Morani. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Zoa Morani. Show all posts
Sanjay Leela Bhansali has postponed the release of his forthcoming film My Friend Pinto from June 17 to July 1st.
His film was clashing with Shah Rukh Khan's home production Always Kabhi Kabhi.
According to an industry insider, Sanjay Leela Bhansali recently saw SRK's dance number Antenna from the film and that made him rethink about the clash.
SLB had decided to postpone his production My Friend Pinto from June 17th to a further date.
Now Bhansali doesn't want to take AKK for granted especially after watching SRK's awe inspiring number.
Now Bhansali doesn't want to take AKK for granted especially after watching SRK's awe inspiring number.
Perhaps he wants to avoid the disastrous deja vu when Om Shanti Om and Saawariya clashed on the big screen.
However, SLB now has stronger contenders. His film will now release with Delhi Belly and Big B's Bbuddha Hoga Tera Baap.
However, SLB now has stronger contenders. His film will now release with Delhi Belly and Big B's Bbuddha Hoga Tera Baap.
She’s young, uninhibited and spontaneous… and set to debut in Shah Rukh Khan’s Always Kabhi Kabhi. Zoa Morani is not new to tinsel town. Daughter of producer Karim Morani, Zoa, who just turned 22, is expected to be one of the hottest and most promising Bollywood discoveries.
“I have always wanted to be an actor and knew that I would end up in the movies,” says Zoa confidently. “I've nurtured this wish since I was six. I would go for my father's shows fire up the stage and watch the stars dance. I loved the music and dance and promised myself that I would land there someday. At home, I would gather all the cousins and we would dress up in ghagra-cholis and imitate the stars. We used to have our own mini dance shows and talk about having our own film show,” she laughs.
Zoa was “in heaven” when a friend showed her pictures to director Roshan Abbas for a possible role in a film. And she “was floored” when SRK’s Red Chilli Productions offered her a part. “I didn’t know the film was being produced by SRK,” she says with excitement. “I play this girl Nandini. The film focuses on four students. played by Ali Fazal, Giselle Monteiro, Satyadev Dubey and me — who are in the last year of school and how one incident changes their lives forever.”
Like her film character, Zoa says she too was defiant till she was 15. “I’ve changed a lot since then but the rebelliousness is still there.” No wonder she has no inhibitions speaking about boyfriend Shamik Raja openly. “Shamik has been extremely supportive and is currently in India to support me. He’s a hedge-fund manager in Canada,” she states.
Zoa’s entry into films also involved some mutiny. Her parents were unhappy with her decision to join films. “My dad refused to let me be a part of the film world,” she says. And it was only in the face of her stubborn determination that “he relented”. Asked if having a famous dad makes it easy for her, Zoa says, “Having a famous father puts more pressure on me, I have to prove myself and not let my parents down.”
Zoa has worked behind the screen with Farah Khan in Om Shanti Om and Rajkumar Santoshi in Halla Bol. “Not that I wanted to become a director,” she explains, “But working behind the camera helps you learn the nuances of acting.” Subsequently, she joined Anupam Kher’s academy and Barry John’s acting classes too. Yet, “I was very nervous on my first day of shoot,” she smiles. “Though everyone on the set was very helpful and my sister, who is assistant to Roshan Abbas, was also there, I was jumpy. I even broke my heel six times while performing a dance sequence!”
Asked whom she would love to work with in the future, she says diplomatically, “There are so many I can’t just name one. For now, I’m just waiting for the release of Always Kabhi Kabhi and praying that it will work wonders for me.”
Zoa Morani’s cup of joy is brimming over. Not only has she fulfilled her dream of being an actress and bagged a launch vehicle produced by Shah Rukh Khan, but she has also succeeded at convincing her father Karim Morani, a renowned Bollywood producer, to come around to her choice of profession.
Though Karim Morani has produced umpteen successful Hindi films like Damini (1993), Raja Hindustani (1996) and Arjun (1985), he was still averse to the idea of his daughter being a Bollywood actress.
21-year-old Zoa, who is currently elated at being signed for a film co-produced by Shah Rukh Khan and the Moranis and directed by Roshan Abbas (anchor), recollects her struggle to get acceptance from her dad. She begins by informing us about her protective upbringing. Zoa said, “I belong to a very conservative family. So much so that even today I cannot go out for late nights, unless I am at a very close friend’s house. I am also expected to leave specific details of my outings with my friends like where I am and what time I will return home.”
Zoa had cherished the dream of being an actress since she was knee high, but of course no one took her seriously then. But when she disclosed her career choice to her family, especially her dad, it created ripples. She admits, “Initially, my dad was not too happy with my decision to be an actress.”
Zoa Morani
Though Zoa had to struggle to get things done her way and her determination was tested many times, she succeeded finally, thanks to her mother, Zahra, who was her pillar of strength. Zoa revealed, “My mother played a big role in convincing my dad that I should be allowed to realise my dream.”
To convince her dad, Zoa decided to get her message across in the most subtle manner possible. She said, “I became a very obedient child at home. I would follow his instruction to the T but was stuck on my demand to be an actress. Eventually, he saw through my firm determination and agreed that I should get behind the scenes to begin with. I became an assistant director to Rajkumar Santoshi for Halla Bol for a few days. Later, I was the last assistant director to Farah Khan for Om Shanti Om. Meanwhile, things started falling in place and my father not just allowed me to be an actress but is also co-producing my debut film.”
Once, Zoa got a green signal from her dad, she enrolled in Anupam Kher’s acting school to get her basics right. Thereafter she did a three months training with the famed theatre actor Barry John (who has tutored SRK). The once pleasantly plump Zoa is heavily into a workout regime where she practises yoga for one and a half hour religiously.
Now that the storm is behind her, what is her father’s advice to her? “My father had advised me to keep my head on my shoulders and be cautious of the company I keep. I will be consulting my father at every stage in my life. As regarding intimate scenes, I will not do anything that will upset or embarrass my parents.”
Zoa’s debut film is expected to hit the floors later this year.
She will soon be seen in SRK's home production 'Always Kabhi Kabhi', which is an adaptation of Roshan Abbas' 1999 play, 'Graffiti'. She will also be seen on ramp at Lakme India fashion week.
