Fifteen years after her splashy debut opposite Salman Khan in ‘Veer’, Zareen Khan is turning the page from actor to beauty entrepreneur. In an exclusive chat with Hook, she gets candid about online trolling, the tiny circle she leans on, what she’s binge-watching and her newest passion project, Happy Hippie.
Zareen keeps her vulnerable moments private
When Zareen was quizzed on her 2 a.m. shoulder to cry on, she replied, “I don't really enjoy crying in front of people”. She said “I am very much a handling-my-own-issues type of girl, when I want to vent, I call my few friends who’ve been there since school and college and my management team who are so close to me.”
The one friend Zareen Khan never says no to
When asked about which celebrity she’ll always make time for, Zareen's answer is instant: “I think Salman only, because he is so much fun to be around.” Fifteen years since she debuted with Salman, that warmth is clearly still there!
What’s on Zareen Khan's watchlist
Talking about what she has been watching, the ‘Veer’ actress highly recommends ‘Black Mirror.’ She says, “It really provides you with an overview of how the society is functioning. I remember watching the first series many years back and thinking, ‘How is this possible?’” adding, “honestly, that season is something that we’re living now.”
The best advice Zareen ever got came from Salman Khan
Zareen shared that the most meaningful piece of advice she got, actually came from none other than Salman. The actress said that he told her, “You have a childlike innocence, never lose it.” Zareen then said the message hit home later: “It made full sense only with time.”
Why Zareen Khan regrets doing ‘Aksar 2’
When asked about her regrets, Zareen opened up on ‘Aksar 2.’ She said, “When it was narrated to me, it was something else and when it was produced, it came out so different. When vibes go wrong, the result is always bad.”
Item numbers & token roles
Zareen’s take on item songs was that item numbers are "fun if they’re not done in a cringey way.”
When asked about her thoughts on token female characters without a main plotline, the actress said, “That is so sad, but I’m glad this is changing now,” talking about the new wave of films and web shows centered around strong women.
From debutante to business owner, Zareen’s story is about choosing her path: embracing praise without being boxed in, absorbing criticism without hardening, and picking work that aligns with her views.
