Actor Perizaad Zorabian may not have spent decades in the film industry, but her performances during the early 2000s earned her recognition in both Hindi and English-language Indian cinema. After working with major names including Amitabh Bachchan, Shabana Azmi, Victor Banerjee and Om Puri, she made an unexpected decision to step away from films and return to her family’s poultry business.
Today, the business has evolved into a company with an annual turnover of Rs 120 crore. While many actors continue pursuing fame in mainstream cinema, Perizaad chose entrepreneurship, family life, and business expansion over a long-term acting career.
Early Dreams of Becoming an Entrepreneur
Perizaad grew up in an Irani family in Mumbai and said she always imagined herself following the entrepreneurial path of her father.
Speaking in an interview with Uncovered with Suketu Shah, she recalled, “I was 8 and couldn’t even pronounce entrepreneur correctly, but I knew that’s what I wanted to be.”
After completing her education in India, she moved to New York to pursue an MBA. During her stay there, she came across the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute because one of her friends was studying at the institution.
Following the completion of her MBA, she spent one year studying at the acting institute. Despite exploring creative arts, Perizaad eventually returned to India and joined her family business, Zorabian’s Chickens.
At that stage, acting was not a planned career move. Her primary focus remained working alongside her father in the poultry business.
First Break Came Through Advertising
Perizaad’s entry into entertainment happened unexpectedly after she was noticed by a model coordinator at a family gathering.
Soon after, she landed her first commercial advertisement for Fair and Lovely. Her screen presence attracted additional opportunities and eventually led her to films.
One of her earliest acting projects was Bollywood Calling, directed by Nagesh Kukunoor and also starring Om Puri.
At the time, Nagesh Kukunoor had already gained recognition for films such as Hyderabad Blues and Rockford, both of which had built a strong niche audience.
Perizaad took a one-month break from working at Zorabian’s Chickens to shoot for the film. However, because the film was not released immediately, she returned to her role in the family business.
Speaking to the YouTube channel Not Your Aunty, she said, “I was fully hands-on at Zorabian.”
Her career changed after Pritish Nandy Communications acquired the film and featured her prominently in promotional material.
Reflecting on that phase, she admitted, “My life changed after that.”
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Rise in Niche English-Language Cinema
During the early 2000s, Indian English-language cinema was slowly finding an audience alongside mainstream Hindi films.
Perizaad became one of the recognizable faces associated with that growing niche. She later appeared in films including Morning Raga, Joggers Park and Mumbai Matinee.
Despite her growing visibility, Perizaad remained aware that her popularity was very different from traditional Bollywood stardom.
She said, “I was not a Bollywood star. I wouldn’t get the kind of attention that a Karisma Kapoor would get.”
While discussing how she signed Joggers Park, Perizaad explained that Mukta Arts, founded by Subhash Ghai, had begun focusing on smaller niche films during that period.
By then, she was balancing film assignments alongside responsibilities at her family business. Eventually, her father asked her to choose between acting and working at Zorabian’s Chickens.
Perizaad decided to continue acting, and she said her father fully supported the decision.
Worked With Amitabh Bachchan and International Productions
Over the next few years, Perizaad worked on multiple projects across film, television, and theatre.
She appeared alongside Amitabh Bachchan in Ek Ajnabee and also acted in the television show Hum Pardesi Ho Gaye.
In 2004, she was also part of a Chinese film titled Bandung Sonata, where she portrayed former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Perizaad spent three months in China while working on the project.
Alongside films and television, she continued performing in theatre productions.
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Marriage Changed Her Career Direction
Perizaad stepped away from films at the age of 33 after getting married to businessman Boman Irani, who should not be confused with actor Boman Irani.
Recalling the conversation before marriage, she said, “My husband said, ‘Once we get married, I don’t want you to travel’.”
Her family initially reacted strongly to the statement. However, Perizaad later clarified the context behind it.
“He didn’t say you can’t travel. He said, ‘I will wait for you but I would prefer if you didn’t travel’. I didn’t take on another film after that,” she explained.
At the time, she also wanted to focus on starting a family.
In another interview, she admitted, “Biologcal clock was ticking.”
She added that becoming a mother helped her feel comfortable stepping away from films.
“I knew the only way to be okay with it was to get pregnant, so I chose to have a family,” she shared with Not Your Aunty.
Rejected Major Film Offers
After her marriage, Perizaad reportedly turned down several acting opportunities.
- Subhash Ghai offered her the film Black and White starring Anil Kapoor.
- She also received an offer from Nikhil Advani for Salaam-e-Ishq opposite Sohail Khan.
However, she declined both projects.
Perizaad also remembered advice given by her mother during that period.
“My mother told my husband, ‘She is a butterfly. Don’t clip her wings because she will wither away and die’,” she recalled.
Continued Theatre and Focused on Family
Although she stepped away from films, Perizaad continued working in theatre and television after marriage.
She remembered performing in a play directed by Feroz Abbas Khan, during which her husband welcomed guests attending the production.
Reflecting on the experience, she said, “I had given birth to two children and I was at 48 kgs wearing a pair of shorts and standing in front of 1100 people to a standing ovation.”
Over time, however, her attention increasingly shifted toward expanding the family business.
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Building a Rs 120 Crore Poultry Brand
Perizaad joined the business during a financially difficult phase when her father was reportedly dealing with debt and the company was facing serious challenges.
What originally started as a wholesale poultry business later expanded into retail, quick commerce, and ready-to-cook food products.
Today, the company employs around 700 people and records an annual turnover of Rs 120 crore.
Perizaad described the brand as a niche business rather than a mass-production operation.
“I am running a nice niche artisanal boutique brand,” she said.
She also revealed that she eats chicken every day but avoids consuming chicken while dining outside.
Despite her business success, Perizaad admitted that balancing work and family responsibilities remains emotionally demanding.
She said she has experienced both “mom guilt” and “work guilt” throughout her life.
“I need to take time for myself. I don’t meet my friends,” she shared.
No Immediate Return to Films
At present, Perizaad does not appear interested in making a full-time return to acting.
Speaking to the YouTube channel All About Eve, she said any future acting opportunity would need to justify the time spent away from her children and business responsibilities.
She explained that she no longer has the luxury of wasting time on film sets.
However, she also indicated that she remains open to meaningful opportunities in the future if the right project comes along.
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