Bollywood beauty Zoya Afroz, who recently featured in the Netflix web series Taskaree: The Smuggler’s Web, had a head start in the film industry courtesy of her stints as a child star. Her most prominent role was baby Radhika in Hum Saath Saath Hain (1999). She later went on to venture into projects like Mann and Kuch Naa Kaho. In an exclusive interview with mid-day, Zoya shares her journey in showbiz, working with the incredibly talented Emraan Hashmi, and more.
Zoya Afroz on her stint as a child actor
Zoya believes that, despite having a head start in Bollywood, she only benefited in terms of familiarity, not momentum. Being a child artiste helped her grow and get comfortable in front of the camera since she didn’t come from a film family. “Every opportunity still had to be earned,” she asserts. With Taskaree, Zoya considers this phase as a fresh beginning, one where she’s been recognised for her choices. “For me, longevity comes from reinvention and persistence, not early access,” adds Zoya.
Zoya Afroz on working with Emraan Hashmi
In Taskaree, Zoya plays a former cabin crew member, Priya Khubchandani, who works undercover for customs officer Arjun Meena, played by Emraan Hashmi. Zoya says working with the superstar was an education in restraint. “He brings a calm confidence to the set, which makes scenes feel organic rather than rehearsed. What I appreciated most was how present he is, he listens and reacts, and that elevates the scene. It creates a space where performances naturally deepen. He is also a thorough gentleman and a very well-read man,” she shares.
Zoya Afroz on choosing projects
Zoya is drawn to roles that have inner conflict, shaped by circumstance but not defined by it. “I’m less interested in ‘strong’ characters and more interested in complex ones.” However, she does have boundaries when choosing a project. I wouldn’t do anything that exists purely to provoke or objectify, without narrative necessity. If something doesn’t move the story or reveal the character, it doesn’t belong on screen,” she adds.
Going forward, Zoya would love to work with filmmakers who respect subtext and challenge actors-directors like Neeraj Pandey (again), Vishal Bhardwaj, Zoya Akhtar, Meghna Gulzar, and Shoojit Sircar, and actors who bring depth and honesty to their craft.