‘Shah Rukh didn’t choose Zoa for my film’

Debutante director Roshan Abbas denies Khan’s role in casting for Always Kabhi Kabhi, Zoa’s father Karim Morani is the actor’s close friend.

A new hottie is set to enter Bollywood. But before she hits the silver screen in SRK’s Red Chillies production, Always Kabhi Kabhi, Zoa Morani is creating excitement. Of late, speculation has been ripe that SRK took a personal interest in casting Zoa, since her father Karim Morani of Cineyug is close to the superstar.

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Actor-turned director Roshan Abbas says, “Shah Rukh has nothing to do with Zoa’s selection. In fact, she is the first actor, whom I finalised. In fact, she had initially come through another girl who used to work at Cineyug. At that time, we didn’t even know that she was related to the Moranis.”

Zoa plays a firebrand character in the film, an adaptation of Abbas’ 1999 play, Graffiti. “I want to dispel all the notions about it. The initial meetings with the actors would happen in my office and Shah Rukh was busy. No one even told me that Zoa is a Morani,” says Abbas.

“SRK for a long time, had known about my play before he asked me, if I wanted to adapt it for film. So, it would be gross injustice to suggest that the film has come through because of SRK’s friendship with the Moranis,” adds Abbas.

Zoa, incidentally, has been as assistant director to Rajkumar Santoshi for Halla Bol (2008) and Farah Khan for Om Shanti Om (2007). Abbas is truly impressed with the acting graduate from Anupam Kher’s Actor Prepares. “During a scene, I wanted her to dive into the sea when the tides were very strong. Many people asked me not to make her jump. But she dived in fearlessly. In another scene, we made her stand at the edge of a cliff. Many thought it’s dangerous, but Zoa did it without any fear. She has been very impressive,” he says.