Rueing that she has been restricted to glamorous roles in films, Zareen Khan hopes to change the image with a travel show
Letty Mariam Abraham (MID-DAY; January 29, 2020)

How often is it that your passion and profession find meeting ground? An avid traveller, Zareen Khan is thrilled that her maiden television show, Bollywood Trails, takes her to different pockets of the country since she explores iconic locales that served as settings for Hindi films. The actor talks about taking on a new role for the AXN venture, and why she is more than just a pretty face.

Edited excerpts from the interview.

Did you have TV offers coming your way before you signed this show?
I got offers to be part of reality shows, Bigg Boss being one of them. But Bigg Boss is not my cup of tea. I am glad to debut on television with something that I enjoy doing. Travel is my passion and Bollywood is my profession. [The two elements] combine on this show, making it the perfect debut vehicle for me on TV. With this show, I got the opportunity to [travel to] some iconic locations that have been used in Bollywood films and heard so many behind-the-scenes stories from directors.

Was television part of your career plan?
I always dreamt of doing a travel show. I remember telling my sister about this during the shoot of 1921, in London, and now, it has come true. Imagine visiting some of the most gorgeous sites, relishing exquisite cuisines and being paid to do that! Another advantage of doing the show is that I will be able to reach a wider audience. People will get to see the real side to me.

Did you play a part in choosing the locations?
Unfortunately, I wasn’t part of the research. The team had already decided the locales they wanted to go to, the directors they wanted to interview and the films they wanted to discuss. One of the reasons they got me on board was because I am an avid traveller. Also, I like driving in difficult terrain.

Were you aware of the hotspots before you shot for the series?
There are so many things I wasn’t aware of. Through the series, I got to see the places in a new light. I know India more because of this [outing].

What is happening on the film front?
My upcoming release, Hum Bhi Akele, Tum Bhi Akele, was recently screened at the Rajasthan Film Festival and received great feedback. I will start shooting for a Punjabi film, and have signed another horror movie. Besides this, I am making my web debut with a woman-oriented [series].

Your movie career hasn’t panned out the way you would’ve liked it to. Why?
People in the industry have a different perception about me — they think I am an eye-candy and not capable of doing performance-oriented roles. I don’t blame them [for thinking so since I have done glamorous roles]. But I can choose only from the offers that come my way. After Hum Bhi Akele, Tum Bhi Akele, I hope people’s perception changes and they realise that I am more than a pretty face. I am making a conscious effort to pick content-driven projects.