The actor turned producer this year, with “Love Breakups Zindagi”, and says there are bigger plans for it in the coming year.

“(There are) Lots of things on the cards. I am not at liberty to tell what my company is involved in. But we are onto our next production right now. It is an action-comedy,” Zayed said on the sidelines of a garment store launch here.

“Besides that, we are working on multiple levels of all forms of entertainment and, yes, I am working on another film, which I am starting in February,” he added.

Year 2011 also brought him another reason for joy — his second son with wife Mallaika. Zayed’s first son, Ziddan is now three, and the couple has named the second child, Aariz.

“I am a family guy. Lots of things to juggle with and I am just happy with the pace of life,” said Zayed.

After making his Bollywood debut in 2003 with “Chura Liya Hai Tumne”, the actor featured in films like “Main Hoon Na”, “Dus”, “Cash”, “Yuvvraj”, “Blue” and “Anjaana Anjaani”.

He will soon be seen in Priyadarshan’s “Tezz”.

action-comedy,” Zayed said on the sidelines of a garment store launch here.
“Besides that, we are working on multiple levels of all forms of entertainment and, yes, I am working on another film, which I am starting in February,” he added.

Year 2011 also brought him another reason for joy — his second son with wife Mallaika. Zayed’s first son, Ziddan is now three, and the couple has named the second child, Aariz.

“I am a family guy. Lots of things to juggle with and I am just happy with the pace of life,” said Zayed.

After making his Bollywood debut in 2003 with Chura Liya Hai Tumne, the actor featured in films like Main Hoon Na, Dus, Cash, Yuvvraj, Blue and Anjaana Anjaani.

He will soon be seen in Priyadarshan’s Tezz.

The actor turned producer this year, with “Love Breakups Zindagi”, and says there are bigger plans for it in the coming year.

“(There are) Lots of things on the cards. I am not at liberty to tell what my company is involved in. But we are onto our next production right now. It is an action-comedy,” Zayed said on the sidelines of a garment store launch here.

“Besides that, we are working on multiple levels of all forms of entertainment and, yes, I am working on another film, which I am starting in February,” he added.

Year 2011 also brought him another reason for joy — his second son with wife Mallaika. Zayed’s first son, Ziddan is now three, and the couple has named the second child, Aariz.

“I am a family guy. Lots of things to juggle with and I am just happy with the pace of life,” said Zayed.

After making his Bollywood debut in 2003 with “Chura Liya Hai Tumne”, the actor featured in films like “Main Hoon Na”, “Dus”, “Cash”, “Yuvvraj”, “Blue” and “Anjaana Anjaani”.

He will soon be seen in Priyadarshan’s “Tezz”.

So, we want to know what exactly they are celebrating. One understands that when a film really does well at the box office and rakes in heaps of moolah, it does call for a party. My guess is that with umpteen product placements in the film, the producers made enough and more cash from the project.

Well, then that’s called smart filmmaking. Did they take a tip from the marketing genius Shahrukh Khan? Anyway, perhaps that’s what they were rejoicing about.

So there were Zayed’s aka Z’s parents Zarine and Sanjay Khan, sisters Farah Khan Ali and Sussanne Roshan, and filmy friends including Ramesh Taurani, Rajkumar Hirani, Jackky Bhagnani, Kunal Kapoor, Ganesh Hegde, Gaurav Kapoor, Chunky Pandey and many others who showed up for merrymaking. By the way, one also hears that despite the lukewarm response to the film, the trio of Dia, Zayed and Sahil has begun work on their next project. Let’s hope that one turns out to be a real success!

Dior, Armani, Ermenegildo Zegna, Sanchita, Manav Gangwani are the labels that the actor is seen sporting at the shoot.

Recently Deepika Padukone was seen on the cover of Hi! Blitz, which is a magazine that belongs to the same group that owns Hi! Living. Both the editions have captured the essence of the sport beautifully. Zayed looks hot in a leather jacket, popping the champagne and flaunting his usual cool attitude.

“My wife Malaika just gave birth to a lovely, healthy boy. Zidaan is thrilled to have a younger brother. People have been asking us for pictures, but the women in my family are superstitious. They believe in auspicious timing, so when the time is right, everyone will get to see the baby. We’ve decided upon the name Aarez. It means king or leader,” says a beaming Zayed.

Career-wise too, he has another ‘baby’ that’s keeping him busy – his own movie production. Talking about his journey from acting to producing, Zayed, who comes from a filmi background (his father, Sanjay Khan, used to produce, write, edit and act), he says, “I come from a background where I am programmed to understand what happens in every department. I was basically born in the cradle of Bollywood. For me, it was never just another project or business venture, but a passionate craft. Even as an actor, it’s beneficial to know what my director wants or which lens is used for what shot etc. Producing a film requires you to go beyond the creative side in order to deal with the business aspect.”
And this is a lot easier said than done, says Zayed, who wouldn’t want things any other way. “From being in touch with the light technicians to checking whether the caterers have sent food on time, I do it all. You need to be in control, it’s like being the CEO of a company.”

When it comes to his acting career, Zayed still gets criticized for not choosing the right films and acting only in multi-starrers. “Being in multi-starrers doesn’t bother me. I’ve had some super-duper films There was “Main Hoon Na” with SRK and Amrita – it was an amazing film… so why not? But in all honesty, if people perceive that I haven’t yet done what I have come out to do, maybe there is some truth to that,” says the actor, who is quite excited about his next acting venture with Priyadarshan.

“I can’t reveal much about the film, but I can tell you that when I was younger, I met Priyan at a party and he said to me, ‘Zayed, the day you wake up at 5 am, call me’. I haven’t the foggiest idea why people would pitch me as a wild person in my younger days. Now, I guess, things have changed,” he quips.

Ask him if we can see him producing his own films from now on and Zayed clarifies, “When we believe in the script and get someone else to do the acting, it might send out the wrong message that we are not capable of acting ourselves. And the role in my home production was apt for Dia and me, so we did act in it. But if a film requires someone else to be cast, then why not? I’m not that narcissistic that only I will act in my own productions all the time.”

The making of this film will be telecast in 20 episodes, which will cover the entire journey of the making of this film.

How did you decide to produce a film together? DM- I’ve wanted to direct a film from quite some time now. I had a story idea and discussed it with Sahil Sangha (director) and Zayed (Khan) and they really liked it. Since I was involved in the ideation of the script, I was possessive about it and did not want to hand it over to somebody else. This is how the three of us got together and decided to make Love Breakups Zindagi.

ZK -It is very important to have a like- minded person to work with. Dia and I have known each other for a very long time. And, of course, Sahil Sangha (director) is a walking-talking film encyclopedia.

Was it difficult juggling on the sets as actors and producers? DM – We are both experienced actors, plus we had workshops. As a producer, you live with the script much longer and a lot of time goes in preparation. The balance between both happened quite efficiently. There wasn’t a single moment when I felt overwhelmed with this dual responsibility. ZK- Dia is amazing at multi-tasking, but I detached myself as a producer once I was on the sets. It is difficult for me, as an actor, to get involved with the day- to- day production aspects of a film, once the shooting starts. DM (Interrupts) – I am just a woman and that says it all. (Laughs)

What is the film about? ZK – The film deals with relationships. The protagonists evolve and understand what life means to them and what they desire from it. This film will make you smile and cry at the same time. DM- The movie revolves around the idea of a relationship between people with opposite personalities. When we make friends, we generally choose like-minded people but while selecting a life partner, we tend to select opposites. As exciting as it is momentarily, problems do tend to arise in the future.

Describe your characters ZK – I play Jai, a marketing executive from Delhi who loves his mother. He is the sunshine in everybody’s life but is in crisis. The movie revolves around his journey of understanding himself and his true desires through various situations. DM-I play Naina who is young, independent, fun-loving and values relationships. Content with her secure life, Naina ignores any possible changes which may or may not bring happiness to her life.

What is your take on the relationships that today’s generation get into? DM – It is difficult to give a general take on relationships, they are different for different people. I feel that people have become more ambitious today and don’t have the time and patience for a relationship. ZK -Today’s generation is very conscious about their surroundings. People want to get into relationships for the sake of it. I wanted to be a bachelor all my life because I had seen my sister being in relationships. But when I met my wife Mallaika, I fell in love with her instantly. It was like a shampoo ad, everything was in slow motion.

Rohit Bal, who’d jumped up and hugged Ashish in excitement after his show, followed him here, albeit a little more sedately. In attendance were designers, models and old friends like Rahul Dev, who came for a short while.

Zayed said, “Dia was just like a mummy with a jhaadu in her hands, ready to pounce any moment in case there was any mistake.” To this Sahil added, “But she was also very caring on the sets. She would go around asking people, ‘khana kha liya?’”

The actress came dressed in a simple sequinned skirt and white top with her hair pulled back in a ponytail. She said her debut as a producer was an interesting experience since she has always been the sort who asks questions. “Even as an actor, I always wanted to know how everything worked, so I would ask a lot of questions,” she said.

Film production may be old hat for his family, but Zayed Khan is a newbie at the game. He is Dia’s business partner in Born Free Entertainment Pvt Ltd, and also her co-star in the film. “The film is our baby and the extra effort has been a painfully joyous process. It is a feel-good, socially relevant film about contemporary relationships that break social taboos. It has a quirky script,” says Zayed, who plays a marketing executive facing a mid-life crisis.

Written and directed by their other partner Sahil Sangha, the Sahara Motion Pictures collaboration is slated for an October 7 release. The response to the theatrical promo on air has been extremely positive, says Sahil.

“We are set to kick off a young and vibrant marketing campaign and we are sure that it will strike a chord with all those who have had a taste of Love Breakups Zindagi. The story comes straight from the heart as it travels through the lives of young individuals who struggle to interpret the nuances of that tricky thing called love,” adds the director.

Also, the first time collaboration between lyricist Javed Akhtar and composer duo Salim-Suleiman brings something unique to the film’s music. Bhushan Kumar at T-Series echoes that thought and is excited about the film’s melodies.