I had to start from scratch, says 'Bhaag Johnny' star Zoa Morani

Zoa Morani, who made her debut in Always Kabhi Kabhi, had vanished from the scene after the film failed at the box office. There was talk about her doing a Shyam Benegal film, but even that fizzled out. Later, she went through some personal hardship when her father Karim Morani, who manages an event company, was embroiled in the 2G scam case. But Zoa has put all that behind her and is gearing up for her second film Bhaag Johnny that releases next month.

You made your debut three years ago, but have been missing since then...
I had a dream debut with Shah Rukh Khan producing my film Always Kabhi Kabhi. However, the film didn't do well, so it was hard for me. I had to start from scratch. I joined Salim Aris (his plays are written by Gulzar) and started doing theatre. For the past couple of years have been busy with plays like Taj Mahal Ka Udghatan. I also took up Asthanga Yoga which is spiritual yoga. It helped me get over my dark phase. If not for that I wouldn't have managed to pull off.

What happened to the film you were to do with Shyam Benegal?
Something weird happened with that. At that time I was shuttling between Mumbai and Delhi and in between I gave an audition for a film that was to be directed by Shyam Benegal. It went well and Shyam Benegal said he liked it. I had acted like a Haryanvi girl and Benegal was impressed that despite being a Mumbai girl, I had done so well. After that I got a call from the producer who first told me I was shortlisted and later that I got the film. Later, I heard that Benegal hadn't given a go-ahead. Till date, I don't know what the truth is!

Now that your second film is up for release, you must be banking on it.
The film has shaped out really well. It's an action thriller and is about two people running parallel lives. But it's not a double role. When I heard the story, I knew it was a complicated and tough role. It is all about Karma and how a right and wrong decision lead to their own repercussions. It is so different from my debut film in which I played a school girl. Here there are a lot of intense scenes and action, it's a mature role and I must say my director Shivam Nair and co-star Kunal Khemu helped me a lot. I am looking forward to the response to this film.