'Rosa didn't choose to be in showbiz'
Since her split with Saif Ali Khan, Rosa Catalano is being painted as the villain in the relationship, with certain sections of the media alleging that her showbiz ambitions drove the couple apart.Rosa, who has returned home to Switzerland, is not here to defend herself nor does she want to offer explanations as to what went wrong.But Australian actor Tania Zaetta (last seen in Salaam Namaste and Bunty Aur Babli), who was one of Rosa’s closest friends in Mumbai, has no qualms about speaking up for Rosa. In Rosa’s defenceThe Sydney-based Tania says, “Rosa is my dearest friend in India. There are very few people you meet who are as warm, giving, friendly and honest as Rosa. She has helped me through many tough times. It wasn’t easy being on my own in a foreign land, so it was a blessing to have a close buddy, also a foreigner, living the Bollywood life and all the judgmental thoughts that have come along with it for both of us. We’ve spent many afternoons by a 5-star hotel poolside comparing notes about the difficulties of being a foreigner in India. For two free-spirited girls, that cool pool was our saviour from the busy streets and the sultry heat.” However, Tania is not willing to speculate about the possibility of Rosa and Saif patching up. She says, “One hopes that Rosa and Saif would be able to work through their differences, but out of respect for them we should let them deal with the relationship their own way.Relationships are difficult to maintain for anyone, especially for those in showbiz, where you are under constant scrutiny and have contrasting media reports to contend with. It’s important to remember that Rosa didn’t choose a career in the entertainment industry like others, but found herself in the limelight because of her relationship with Saif,” insists Zaetta.Would it be awkward if she were to meet Saif face-to-face now? “Certainly not,” she says. “That’s because Saif is also a friend. Besides, Saif has been very kind to me while I was in India, and I am sure that’s not going to change because Rosa and he are not together anymore. Although I am sure my friendship with Rosa will be closer since we’ve bonded so well and have mutual affection and admiration for each other,” she counters.
