Blonde bombshell Kate Moss was the world’s first petite super model to reign so unequivocally. Moss, for those wondering, is touted to be around 5’7’’, which in Pakistani terms means you’re blessed and belong to a family with good, tall genes. Models, as occupational hazard, have to be skinny and exceptionally tall but every once in a while a dark horse enters the race. For Pakistan, this contender has to be Zara Peerzada.
Having seen the outrageous fun of the all-female comedy group - the Auraat- Naak show - in Karachi earlier this year, Zara Peerzada has also stepped into the arena of stand-up comedy. “Now when something annoying happens or I have an exasperating experience I think great, I have a new joke for my routine,” she explains.
In conversation with Zara Peerzada
Blonde bombshell Kate Moss was the world’s first petite super model to reign so unequivocally. Moss, for those wondering, is touted to be around 5’7’’, which in Pakistani terms means you’re blessed and belong to a family with good, tall genes. Models, as occupational hazard, have to be skinny and exceptionally tall but every once in a while a dark horse enters the race. For Pakistan, this contender has to be Zara Peerzada.
Petite, svelte and not exceptionally endowed when it comes to height, Peerzada doesn’t come across as your quintessential model but the number of billboards country-wide, with her face plastered across them will convince you otherwise. In front of the camera, Peerzada’s a chameleon.
There’s more to the pint-sized beauty though than just a pretty face. Peerzada is known for her quirky, off-beat personality and unique approach to fashion. The model recently even forayed into stand-up comedy with the Auratnaak troupe and received acclaim from all quarters for her witty, insightful perspective on living as a woman in Pakistan.
We caught up with the model for a tete-a-tete about the industry, comedy and future plans.
In terms of her career trajectory, Peerzada has been slowly and steadily adding to her portfolio, an exercise she wants to currently continue with. “I feel like I have a lot to prove in terms of the range that I can offer as a model, so that’s an aspect of my career that I want to explore further now. I have a lot of commercial work to show over the years but not enough editorial, not just because of a restriction in terms of wardrobe available but also because some people might consider my height an impediment. So that’s something I’d like to address,” she states.
Peerzada’s bohemian personality also clashes with her public persona; the kind of image that is associated with her as a model – that of a pretty lawn girl, couldn’t be further from the truth. Being type casted as such is also frustrating but unfortunately the majority of our industry’s modeling work stems from three piece suits that have a particular audience who will only respond to a certain kind of visual.
Peerzada’s wish for a varied portfolio and greater creative agency is also reflected in the fact that she recently stepped into the arena of stand-up comedy, a new medium of entertainment in this gaiety starved country. Peerzada first saw the Auraatnaak show in Karachi which featured a diverse group of women take to the stage to poke funny at serious issues in life.
“I was taken aback by how much I enjoyed the show and how hard I laughed. I had been feeling very stuck; personally professionally, even in terms of my style so when I got out of the show I realized I wanted to do this for myself and I just wanted to have fun with it.
It was so refreshing to see a bunch of women get together, to laugh at each other and with each other and the rest of world, which can more often or not just be a horrid place. It really changes your perspective in life and how you view things day to day. Now when something annoying happens or I have an exasperating experience I think great, I have a new joke for my routine,” she explains.
As far as future plans are concerned, Peerzada’s always had her eyes on a more dynamic career in terms of acting, theater or performance art but has been very discerning about the roles she chooses to embody. “I don’t want to be pigeonholed as just the pretty, insipid girl because I’ve already suffered by being categorized as such in modeling and I don’t want to start off on the wrong foot in terms of my acting,” Peerzada states.
We’re hopeful though that the revival of cinema will soon see a greater variety of roles being written for women and hence being offered to Peerzada. Our industry can only flourish if there’s diversity in terms of talent and plot.
