Shenaz Treasurywala talks about making a final comeback to Bollywood, getting almost kidnapped as a child, her ‘forever friend’ Himesh Reshammiya and lots more!
Let’s start with your childhood... what was it like?
Being the daughter of a Merchant Navy captain, I have spent the early years of my life traveling the globe on board cargo ships that carried potatoes, onions and rice. I was even conceived on the ship. I learned to swim before I could walk and my day consisted of swimming on the ship and fishing from the deck. I had no friends of my age because I was the only child on board and when I saw a kid my age, I used to get very excited. I shall never ever forget almost getting kidnapped while climbing the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Kidnapped... that must be an interesting story!
My mother befriended a French woman who couldn’t have kids; then while climbing down the tower, she held me, looked at mum coldly, and said, ‘I have to take her. You can have more children, I can’t.’ In typical filmi style my mother ran after her, snatched me away from the crazy lady and made a run for it. My mum was a teacher who taught me the basic kindergarten stuff on the ship. But soon, I had to go ashore and be enrolled into school. And so, my mother and I made our home on dry land, while my dad continued to sail. Such a colorful upbringing has its advantages as well as drawbacks. I had traveled around the world and had seen so much more than any other child my age. However, I didn’t know how to interact with children and was a bit too mature. I once met a little boy in Indonesia when I was four, and I chased him around his home trying to kiss him. He ran for his life! And I wept all night wondering why he didn’t like me. That was also my first experience with the opposite sex—permanently damaging!
Did you know early on that you wanted to be an actress?
When I was finally put into school, I was very quiet, shy and dreamy, not knowing how to interact with children my age. That dreaminess soon found a channel, courtesy Arthur Miller. My parents took me to a play, “A View From the Bridge”. I remember being mesmerized by the actors on stage and I told my parents that I wanted to be an actress.
‘MTV Most Wanted’ gave you fame, name, money.. did you always dream of becoming a VJ?
Showbiz came calling. As soon as I entered FYJC in Xaviers’, I was approached by a production coordinator who asked me to test for an ad. Though I had been approached earlier also but thought it was a joke and hadn’t really gone to any of the screen tests. I was a rounded kid; I didn’t see myself as a skinny model. My friends urged me to go. There were 200 other girls at the audition. I really didn’t want to wait around all day, but my friend who was with me refused to let me leave. Luckily, it was a performance-based comedy ad and I managed to make them laugh and got the ad. Before I knew it, my phone wouldn’t stop ringing. I was called in for every ad. MTV approached me at this time to screen test and before I could even look up to understand what was happening I was hosting ‘MTV Most Wanted’. I never stopped studying though. I graduated in English Lit and even when MTV moved my base to Singapore I continued to study there, and did my post-graduation in journalism. All those years of dreaming on the ship and not having company or anyone to talk with, well I more than made up for the not talking, after I joined MTV, all those words just burst out of my mouth.
After MTV, you suddenly disappeared. What kept you busy during that period?
After MTV, ‘Ishq Vishk’ happened immediately. I was too young! I wasn't focused and had no idea what I wanted from life. Things came too easy to me and I took that for granted. After ‘Ishq Vishq’, I didnt get the kind of films I would like to watch, so I just took off. I had just finished my studies decided to take some time off and figure out if this is what I really wanted. I tried photography, writing, production, hosted travel shows in the US. I lived out of a suitcase like a hippy, went to acting and writing school in the US, did some plays, did tiny parts in LA; until I started missing Mumbai and the buzz. I watched every film while I was away and it kind of made me sad. I wanted to be part of it. I wanted ‘in’ again. So, I decided to come back, this time with focus and that’s what I am doing here now. I have three movies ready for release. I guess this is my comeback and, truthfully, I am very nervous about it. This is all I care about now. I've been everywhere, tried everything, traveled the world, studied in the best schools, and I’m ready to work hard and be focused. I don't care about anything else anymore. Now I know that this is what I really want and it is my choice.
You made debut with Ken Ghosh, Shahid Kapoor, what happened after that?
Like I said, I wasn’t focused and did not know what I wanted. During ‘Ishq Vishk’, I continued hosting shows for MTV, traveling, practicing my photography, basically all my ‘awaragiri’ . I have itchy feet and can’t stay in one place too long. I even remember something Shahid said very clearly, "Tu kab tak traveling aur VJing karegi, films pe concentrate kar. Take it seriously". At that time I took offense and was really upset with him but now I look back and realize, that he had focus and vision and knew what he wanted, I did not. When I got nominated for the ‘Filmfare Awards’, I was backpacking somewhere, it took my parents a while to get in touch with me and ask me to come back. I am a simple girl, I don’t need diamonds or jewels or fancy cars, all I need is enough money to be able to travel and eat well. I am quite a hippy really. But then, I realized it was acting and being in front of the camera which I loved and which I just gave up out of rebellion. This is another side to me and I really enjoy acting and I am good at it. Why give it up?!
What made you accept ‘Radio’?
The script was so tight, fast-paced, the music was exceptional. I loved my role in the film and fell in love with my character ‘Shanaya’.
he says right 
