Piya's interview

How did 'Kosmic Chat' happen?
I quite enjoyed doing The Lounge on CNBC TV18. The tete-e-tete with intelligent and interesting celebs from different fields was pretty motivating and it also gave me a chance to best express myself in the language we all are comfortable with - English. The show was a sponsored mini-series and is now off-air; so I decided to take up the Kosmic Chat offer.

But here, you have to share the platform with Sunita Menon?
No, it's not a question and answer format. It's a discussion, wherein we have various segments. Like sometimes, you'd have a person from the audience coming in to get a reading done. Then we have a celebrity section, in which, as the person gets the reading done, we also unveil the various shades to his or her personality. And over a period of time we deal with astrology, numerology and tarot card reading.

The show's focus is on spirituality. Are you a spiritual person yourself?
I am spiritual and interested in the subject as everyone is nowadays.

Audiences have seen you as a rather conservative Muslim girl; so now do they see a stylish Simone?
Yes. The show requires me to dress up stylishly. I will be wearing Indo-western clothes, bright colours, exquisite jewellery, the works.

Hosting chat shows - is this where your career is heading?
No, there's lots more happening. I am also doing a daily soap with Ravi Rai called Kkashish. We have shot a few episodes and bulk shooting will happen in October.

If it's Ravi Rai, it has to be about extra marital relationships?
At this stage, I won't be able to talk much about the character. All I can say is, it's a central character about a woman and the way she reacts when dealt with a particular situation. It's a well written role and I have always admired Ravi Rai's work.

Ekta Kapoor has been recently quoted as saying that you are very well-spoken and stylish. Hasn't she offered you a role in any of her soaps?
Well, thanks for the compliment. With a soap, I cannot commit to more than one show, as it becomes a long running commitment. And right from the beginning of my career, I have never taken up too much work. I keep getting offers every day, but I refuse.

Your film career hasn't really taken off; though your fans haven't forgotten the Camila bit in 'Kal Ho Na Ho'?
Well, you'll see me in a film called Being Cyrus directed by a first time director Homi Adajania in November. It has Saif Ali Khan, Naseeruddin Shah and Dimple Kapadia in it.