Her beady brown eyes and fluoride smile in films including 'Chitchor' and 'Gharonda' made her a heroine with an earthy nimbus. Easily slipping into the vacuum left behind by Jaya Bhaduri, actor Zarina  Wahab  represented cinema that was at  once mainstream and meaningful.

Decades later her appearance on TV lends a similar authority to the characters she essays. While she plays the wronged Shalini in 'Virrudh' (Star Plus), for whom life has lost meaning, Zarina's presence has given the show a thrust.

Zarina is also doing 'Zaara-Pyaar ki Saugat' (Sahara One), a Muslim social apart from bagging K Sera Sera's untitled film with Bobby Deol and Nana Patekar.

Show time!

Zarina says of her role in 'Virrudh', "When I accepted the role it was short but interesting. I also liked it because I was not required to wear make-up." Compliment her on the intense portrayal and Zarina explains, "I do not prepare for my scenes. I take two seconds to compose myself and then let myself go spontaneously."

A 'set' pattern

For someone who has enjoyed nestling her family, was it tough spending indefinite hours in the studios? "I am a workaholic. I enjoy working but not after 8 pm. Then I want to head home," asserts Zarina. Ask her about daughter Sana, who couldn't continue being part of Suneel Darshan's 'Shakalaka Boom Boom', and the mother says, "I don't want to discuss her. She was very young when she signed her first film. She's now learning acting in Los Angeles. By the time she completes it, she will be 20. Then she will be ready for her career."

Partner banter

Quiz Zarina about the incessant rumours linking her husband, actor Aditya Panscholi with heroines and she prefers to stand by her husband. "I don't care about the rumours. Neither do I feel possessive. When I married Aditya he was only 21. He is much younger to me. I knew I had to be understanding. He was my choice. Nobody had forced me to marry him," she explains.

Marriage mantra

Zarina continues, "People try to provoke me by asking why I am taking so much. But I'd have left Aditya long ago if he had been a bad husband. He is a very nice human being. All his minus points are overshadowed by his goodness." She relates further, "Once Sana asked me to spell a word in English. I spelt it incorrectly. She  chided me in fun. Aditya pulled her up saying, 'Don't make fun of your mother. If you could even be five percent like her, I'd be happy'." Ask her to point a sterling quality in him and Zarina declares, "He's a very emotional person. He will go out of his way to help and not even let me know."

Life affirming

What gives Zarina the strength to hold on in an industry where marriages are brittle? "I come from a happy family. I'm not from a broken home. I've seen my parents being very loving towards each other. I'm just following them," she shoots.

Summing up her happiness maxim, Zarina says, "I don't like to crib or grumble. I cannot carry on with sadness for long. It's a temporary feeling for me."