Zara: “Everyone can give a particle of his soul”
What achievements she managed to get, wasn’t she scared to perform in Syria and about her shooting in a film, the popular singer and the honored artist of Russia Zara told us.

Zara, what can you admit as your main achievement?

Of course, my children. The elder Daniel is seven, the younger Maxim is five. So I have two sons, two defenders of the Motherland. My happiness is my children, parents, friends. I want to see them happy.

And if we talk about art work?
Every year brings interesting projects, new meetings, awards. Recently, I’ve been given an honored title “The UNESCO Artist for Peace”. It’s not an art award, but it’s very important for me, as I do a lot for children who have problems and limited abilities. These children are very talented. They draw, sculpt, sing. I work with them and get much from them and their parents such things as patience, self-control and high spirit. I think that if I can contribute something to make their life better, I’ll be glad.

Today not only stars engage in charitable organizations but also plain people. But some are glad to join to it but they are scared to be deceived.

Yes, such occasions can be. One day a woman asked for me and introduced herself as a disabled invalid. I wanted to present her an invalid carriage, but she refused because she wished to be sponsored. However, it’s important to help, but to do it on purpose. Recently, I’ve been in the Nursing Home in Noginsk. And before to go there I asked what I can bring to them. Elderly people said that except attention and respect they don’t need anything more. Of course, I came and brought something. But most of all they appreciated talks and songs. Perhaps, I prolonged their lives for a little.
I’m glad that today the attitude towards charity which should be cultivated since childhood, is changing gradually. When I tell my sons that they should share their toys with kids from the orphan’s house, they understand me very well. Charity is a state of soul. To give a particle of his or her soul everybody can.

Is this exactly what you gave our soldiers in Syria?

I was there for three times. When the Ministry of Defence offered me to go there for the first time, I even didn’t have a thought to refuse, remembering our outstanding artists who went to the front and performing. And I became the first artist who performed in Syria. After that, I came there with my people. I didn’t think that it could be dangerous, cause I knew that these soldiers needed our attention and care. They save us from war. I’m sure that Russia will be appreciated and leave its trace in history as a fighter against terrorism. For me the best present was the photo of the Syrian house roof where there was a caption in capital letters: ‘’ You are our brothers’’.

The International ethnic festival ‘The Music of our Hearts’ organized by you is devoted to the union of people.

Yes, I’m an oriental person but at the same time I’m Russian. Ethnic music is my favorite, and it should be supported on all levels and it’s good that plenty of people realize that. At the festival Sergey Bezrukov performed verses from Russia, Zurab Ceretelli from Georgia, Yuriy Stoyanov from Uzbekistan. He remembered an amazing story when during the war his mother was seven and her brother was five, they were evacuated to Tashkent where one uzbek family saved them giving all the best they had. ‘They were sleeping in beds and the hosts on the floor. And when it was time to go to school, these people made for the mother a school apron from a single curtain they had and for her brother a school bag from a single tablecloth’- he said. I want everybody knew about the best one’s of each nation. That is patriotism, it’s our history and without it we don’t have future.

You are a singer, but also you take part in films.

Yes, now the film ‘Rubezh’ is on at the cinema, it tells about the battle on Nevsky square. I have a small role there but everybody says that it is well done. Even Igor Kostolevsky said some pleasant words. Very nice actors play in this film, and the shooting was very realistic. We were shivering from cold in trenches, even special heating pads didn’t save us. But, of course, we didn’t feel the same as our grandfathers did. It’s a very important film for me. And I’m glad that it’s creators could interpret in a modern reality about my fellows from Leningrad and their immortal heroism. I want our children and grandchildren treat them the same way as we do.
I meet a lot of young people. How they care about the events happening now in the society! And it’s very nice to see that they worry about Russian future. They are excited, they want to change something. And the most important, they understand that it’s necesary to start from themselves, from their own region. And if they are about to be initiative, the authorities will support them. It’s not worth shifting all chores to the people who rule the process, sometimes we can do this job.

Zara, when are you going to have a concert in our city?

Petersburg is my native city, I love to come there. This year I have a kind of anniversary, I’m 35. So, on such an occasion I will perform in BKZ ‘Oktyabrsky’ with solo program.
The Russian pop singer, actress and the trustee was born in Leningrad. She finished the gymnasium 56 in Petersburg getting a silver medal. As well as a musical school for children in piano class getting a red diploma. Zara always wins. She was a finalist of the TV contest ‘The morning star’ and show ‘Fabrika zvezd-6’ on the ‘First Channel’, and the laureate of different international festivals. She took part in the ice show ‘Led and plamen’ together with the Olympic champion and figure skater Anton Sicharulidze and has been filmed. In 2016 Zara got the title of the Honored artist of Russia.

The source: Petersburg diary.