Indian soaps are artificial: Zeba

doweshowbellyad=0; Zeba (TOI Photo)Zeba Bakhtiyar is better known as the Pakistani actress who starred opposite Rishi Kapoor in the film Heena many years ago.
But she is also Adnan Sami’s ex-wife and a successful TV producer in Pakistan now. She visited India recently after a gap of 14 years, to be a part of the South Asian Film Festival.
“When I left India 14 years ago, I was so busy with my personal life that I had no time for my work.I got married to Adnan, had a child and also parted ways with him soon after. My personal life was a mess. I don’t even know if any film offers came my way that time because I was busy getting my life on track. I had to fight a custody battle for my son Azaan and post that I started work on restructuring my life from scratch,” says Zeba.
Tell her that she has been through a lot and she offers a quick explanation, “Every artiste needs this kind of a rough period in his/her life. That period taught me some valuable lessons,” she says.
Zeba is friends with Adnan now and knows that he has shed a lot of weight. She laughs, “Adnan’s just doing what is best for him.”
In India after so many years, Zeba has a lot of catching up to do. “I have a friend in Delhi who was blessed with a baby girl when I was shooting for Heena. I happen to be this child’s godmother but I have never seen her. Meeting the kid who I’ve been playing godmother to for more than a decade now, featured topmost on my agenda of catching up here. I’m also in touch with the Kapoors,” she says. Talking about the Kapoors, what is her take on Ranbir making his debut? “I’ve heard a lot about Ranbir. But I remember him as a cute, small kid,” she says.
Has she been following Bollywood closely all this while?
“I cannot say that I have been keeping track of what’s going on here. However, I know that films have become bolder and technically advanced,” says Zeba.
Does she follow the TV scene here, being a TV producer? “I have some idea, but the Indian soaps are very artificial. However, the person behind these soaps has a great mind for he/she is tapping the commercial aspects well. I also know that Ekta Kapoor is the telly tycoon here,” shares she.
Jaya Drona