“Being an entrepreneur is a strenuous process, while acting gives you a lot of joy. Though I enjoy both, I look at acting as nirvana”
Perizaad Zorabian’s life has been a palimpsest, which she has mastered being an actress and entrepreneur, coupled with an equally satisfying personal front.
Today, she leads the way for Zorabian, a poultry business started by her father, “The dream was always to be one. I have always looked up to my father, who used to simultaneously run a dairy farm, bakery and restaurant.”
“Studies were always important. Acting was just a detour that happened because I was in the US, which I did after classes for my MBA.”
After acting in prominent movies such as Bollywood Calling and Morning Raga until 2008, she ventured into family business. “I remember, when I was pregnant, my family was in a crisis, with Zorabian. We were only doing wholesale chicken back then. At that time, my father was setting up a sausage- salami factory. I realised that we were not ready for retail at that time. That was when I stepped in for my father, with my experience in marketing and advertising.”
Even when the company witnessed turbulent times, amid COVID, it was the reassurance that she gave that prompted her team to follow suit. “With great adversity comes great opportunity and big learning. What I am resonates with my team. Nobody is bigger and better than the team at large.”
She says. “The way the entire team has worked during the time is incredible. We used to take ourselves so seriously, because of the duties we performed, as part of our position. However, COVID made us realise the power of teams and having good people on board. Therefore, having your team completely motivated and happy is important.”
Even when the lockdown was called in, and most of her employees were scared for life, like a true leader, she set an example. “We began with an office that kind of shrunk to 5% of its normal number. The fact that I was at work, every single day gave them that needed assurance. We even got the award from the Government of Maharashtra, at the Raj Bhavan for being the COVID warrior.”
Staying away from films was not a deliberate decision, “It was because my children were very young, and Zorabian required me to pitch in.”
Her indomitable spirit continues to inspire her team. “Being an entrepreneur is a strenuous process, while acting gives you a lot of joy. Though I enjoy both, I look at acting as nirvana”, she concludes.
