Bollywood belles shaking a leg in a song or playing the female lead is not new in K-town, but Zarine Khan, the latest to join the list, seems to be a little different. While others in the past have always maintained that they don’t have time for South films, the newcomer says she is all open to offers in Tamil and Telugu.
Audiences would have got to see the Veer actor with Vikram in the period film Karikalan, but, the project was shelved after it ran into problems. However, Zarine is equally happy to dance for an item number in Nakul-starrer Naan Rajavaaga Pogiren, directed by a debutant Prithvi Rajkumar. “Shooting has been hectic, but I love working with this crew and all of them are very professional. I like the song too, though I don’t understand the language,” says Zarine.
The song ‘Malgoa.. Paalkova.. I’m fresh from great Goa,’ penned by lyricist Annamalai and composed by G V Prakash, was recently filmed, for which Zarine was in the city for a few days. “I was shooting here for Karikalan too. But there were no updates about the film after that. I hope it’s still on,” says Zarine.
Zarine is also happy that she is breaking loose of the image of the Katrina Kaif look-alike. “It was all that the media wanted to discuss, even before seeing me on screen. But after 'Ready' and 'Housefull 2', it’s better; I’m getting my own identity,” she says.
Ask Zarine why she is reversing the trend of going up north from the south, she has an answer ready. “I think Asin is the only heroine who made it big in Bollywood recently.
But, there are many actors like Genelia and Hansika, who started their careers in Bollywood and later found the south to be their forte. Moreover, I always want to work here and do more lead roles,” says Zarine.
And, she seems to have her calculations right. “All the recent hits in Bollywood are remakes of south films. The trend of over Rs 100 crore business started with 'Ghajini', which is again a remake. So, when I do a film in the south, I might get the offer in its Hindi remake as well,” she says.
The recent hits of Bollywood Rowdy Rathore, Singham and Ready are all her favourites. Zarine, who says off camera she is a girl next door, wants to work with directors like Shankar, Vetrimaaran and leading heroes in the industry. “Mahesh Babu is someone I would definitely want to work with in this industry,” she says.
Zarine thinks it’s too early for her to do female-oriented subjects like Kahaani and Heroine, but will take up such roles in the long run.