Actor Zoya Afroz is currently riding a wave of international acclaim following the release of the Netflix series Taskaree: The Smuggler’s Web. In a candid interview on February 10, 2026, the former beauty queen opened up about the “overwhelming” success of the show, which has become the first Indian series to top Netflix’s global non-English charts.
Playing Priya, an air hostess caught in a high-stakes undercover smuggling operation alongside Emraan Hashmi, Zoya is finally being celebrated for her craft rather than just her pageant-perfect looks.
Breaking the “Box”: Beauty vs. Talent
Coming from a background as Miss India International, Zoya addressed the deep-seated prejudice in Bollywood that often forces women into singular categories.
- The Judgment: “People want to put you in a box… You’re either a beauty queen or an actor. Why can’t we be both?” she questioned.
- The Achievement: For Zoya, the greatest victory of Taskaree isn’t just the global rank, but the nature of the praise. “I would love to be recognized for my talent… and that has finally happened.”
From Child Star to Leading Lady
Many fans still recognize Zoya as the adorable child artist from 90s blockbusters, but she views her journey as a continuous masterclass rather than a difficult transition.
- The “Dhurandhars”: Working as a child actor in ‘Hum Saath Saath Hain’ (1999) and ‘Kuch Naa Kaho’ (2004) allowed her to learn from legends like Sooraj Barjatya.
- Inevitability: “There has never been a time in my head where I wasn’t acting,” she said, noting that being on sets from the age of three made her feel naturally at home in front of the camera.
Working with the “Serial Realist”: Emraan Hashmi
In Taskaree, Zoya shares a complex dynamic with Emraan Hashmi’s character, Superintendent Arjun Meena.
- Calm Confidence: She praised Hashmi for his “unusual stillness” and observational style, which she says helped elevate her own performance.
- No-Kiss Policy: Interestingly, Zoya clarified that despite their on-screen chemistry, there was never a kiss written into the script. “Restraint communicates far more than consummation, especially when trust is fragile,” she noted.