Pretty poised! December 10, 2009
Posted by Worship Elle in Interviews, Uncategorized.Tags: Dabur, dabur vatika, Har Pal, human trafick, Indian Premier League, ipl, Mother Miracle orphanage
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Preity Zinta on her social concerns.
There are some celebrities who are rather loquacious about their altruistic services to the society and then there are those who do it quietly without looking for any appraisal. The beautiful actress Preity Zinta belongs to the latter.
In New Delhi to promote Dabur Vatika Almond Hair Oil, the spunky actress dressed in a gorgeous white dress looked poised and composed. Caught in a frenzied situation Preity Zinta playfully said, “Guys get up and let the ladies sit!” Within seconds, almost miraculously all the men turned chivalrous and ran to offer their chairs. Such is the charisma of Preity Zinta.
Remind her about her active participation in the social sector and you can’t miss the sparkle in her eyes. After taking 34 girls under her care from the Mother Miracle orphanage in Rishikesh she said, “I will take care of their upbringing. Women’s cause is closest to my heart. All girls have the right to live.” She is all gung-ho about putting together an international basketball team for women to create awareness for women’s cause and encourage charity.
Straight forward
Known for her bold statements and a straight forward attitude, Preity is a die-hard supporter of women’s cause and fervently works for their rights. “A woman’s life in India, especially rural India is very tough. On top of that acts like human trafficking especially of young girls plague our society. We all need to take a stand against it. Malpractices like female infanticide and foeticide need to stop. Give girls a chance,” she said.
The self-proclaimed foodie, Preity believes that this latest obsession with size zero is rather stupid. “I don’t understand why women starve themselves to lose weight. Women at some point in life have to be mothers so they have to be healthy. I swear by exercising. I eat everything in regulated portions and indulge myself once a week. Think about it, we live just once, why not live it to the hilt!”
The dimpled beauty is returning to the silver screen with “Har Pal” in 2010 after a long sabbatical and is hopeful. Talk about it and she is quick to answer, “Thank God IPL is in India next season. My six-month break from films overshot to 18 months because IPL moved to South Africa. But movies are my first love and I am so happy to get back to them.”
Be it films, IPL or social service, Preity Zinta has conquered it all!
Preity discreet December 10, 2009
Posted by Worship Elle in Interviews, Movies.Tags: ipl, isha, Ness Wadia, Shilpa Shetty
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Actress Preity Zinta avoids all questions on ex beau Ness Wadia, and dodges queries even remotely related to him.
Ask her why she missed friend Eesha Koppikhar and Timmy Narang’s wedding, despite playing the matchmaker to the couple, and the actress is quick to say, “I wanted to go, but I was unwell and could not make it.” Incidentally, Wadia was present at the function. And why didn’t she go for Shilpa Shetty’s wedding reception, where again her ex was spotted? “I wasn’t in the country then,” she replies.
Buzz is that the bubbly actress took off to Harvard to escape speculation about her break up, but Preity maintains she went there to grow as a businesswoman. “I think there is scope for everyone to learn more. As a businesswoman, I thought it would be interesting to do a course in business management.” She adds that once she was there, she wasn’t subject to stupid questions or enthusiastic fans because she tried to lie low. “I maintained a low profile and tried to be discreet,” says the actress, while in the Capital to attend a hair care seminar by Vatika Enriched Almond Hair Oil.
The actress, who is active on Twitter, also gives out her reason for joining the microblogging site. “There have been false stories circulating about me. There was also someone impersonating me on the site, so I thought I should join it myself,” she says.
Looking ahead, the actress says she will be “working round the clock the next year”. “I have signed three new films, plus I will be doing a chat show on cricket titled Behind the Seams. I’m also excited about the next season of IPL which is happening in India. But all the talk about my celeb chat show is hearsay. I’m still in talks for that.”
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Only big stars get written off: Preity Zinta December 9, 2009
Posted by Worship Elle in Interviews.Tags: Aishwarya Rai, chicago international film festival, deepha mehta, Har Pal, Heaven On Earth, hrithik roshan, Indian Premier League, ipl, Kings XI Punjab, Ness Wadia, Shah Rukh Khan, Shiney Ahuja
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No Bollywoo
d hits, walking on the wrong side of thirties and going the business way. A perfect recipe to be written off for an actress. The critics may be wondering about the future of Preity Zinta but the dimpled beauty says she does not bother as “only big stars get written off”.
“I have been here since ten years and there have been three times in my career that I have been written off. And it is just not me. It has happened with Mr Bachchan. They wrote off Shahrukh. They wrote off Aishwarya. “I think only when you are a big star is that they write you off. That is one positive thing,” Preity said in an interview. The 34-year-old actress, whose last onscreen appearance was a cameo in Salman Khan starrer box office dud ‘Mr and Mrs Khanna’, has not enjoyed a “happening” year. She was also seen in ‘Heroes’ which did not create any magic either. And for the major part of the year Preity was busy handling her IPL team ‘Kings Eleven Punjab’ which she co-owns with former boyfriend Ness Wadia. “I don’t take my break from movies negatively. I had got involved with IPL and it was a very big investment for me. “I was building a huge property for myself. But I miscalculated. I thought I could understand the business in 6 months. But that was not the case and 6 months became 18 months,” said the actress, who was in the city as the brand ambassador of Dabur Vatika hair oil.
It’s a big deal December 2, 2009
Posted by Worship Elle in Interviews.Tags: Behind the Seam, Harvard, Harvard Business School, ipl, Official Twitter, The Preity Zinda Show, Twitter
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Even though she’s not working on any film right now, Preity Zinta is doing a lot of other things
So what is keeping you busy these days?
I have been travelling a lot, doing ads, shows, cutting ribbons at events etc. I even did a short course in Business Studies and one in Ballroom Dancing with Sandip Soparrkar. And of course reading a lot of scripts.
Are you on Twitter because someone was impersonating you?
Right! When I learnt someone was impersonating me on Twitter, I opened an account as the ‘real Preity Zinta’. Since I am a very private person otherwise, I thought it was time I interacted with my fans.
What has been the best part of this interaction?
To learn that I had so many fans, who missed seeing me on screen. I was surprised and touched!
Why have we not seen you on screen for so long?
Basically because I got busy with my cricket team, but now that has settled and I am ready to do more films.
Was buying an IPL team a good decision?
It was the best decision of my life! I have made enough money to sit back and live well without lifting a finger for the rest of my life!
When will your TV production Behind The Seams be on air?
For the first time a series looks into what it takes to be part of a cricket team! I’m really excited and working very hard on it with my team. There’s still time before I can talk about it.
What about the Preity Zinta Show?
Talks are going on about that but nothing has been finalised.
What kind of films are you looking at today?
If you look at my career graph, I have played a wide range of characters, from a doctor to a cop, to an urban woman to a kiddish girl. I’d love to play a poor village girl now. It’s a character I’ve never played.
How was it doing your first “item” number in Main Aurr Mrs Khanna?
I enjoyed it thoroughly. After playing intense roles in Heroes and Heaven On Earth it was fun to shoot for an “item” number. In fact I am now looking out for more commercial parts as they are hugely de-stressing.
What was the reason for doing a course like Negotiations and Deal Making at Harvard?
I love being part of films but I find doing business very exciting.
Preity’s back in Mumbai October 22, 2009
Posted by Worship Elle in Interviews.Tags: holiday, ipl, Movies
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Preity Zinta is back in Mumbai. People in the film industry had begun to wonder whether she had migrated from India. Preity laughs, “I haven’t
migrated to the US or any other country.
I’m not going anywhere. Mumbai is my home and I am working here. I took a much-needed break after the IPL.”
But while Preity was away, her home in Mumbai was ransacked and robbed, allegedly by her domestic help. She says, “Mere ghar main ho gayi solid chori. They took money and some jewellery. My mother came to Mumbai, spotted the theft and reported it immediately. It was her money that they took.”
After a six-week, well spent vacation with brother and friends, Preity is back. She has always been travelling extensively, “I’ve always been a gypsy. Whether for my outdoor shoots or holidays, I’m frequently out of the country. On my way back, I stopped over in London.”
Now she’s back to listening to scripts. “I’m listening to some really interesting projects. Hopefully, I’ll be signing a couple of films shortly. That would shut those up who want to write me off.”
She is proud to admit that she is financially independent, “I’ll never be broke and never have to depend on a man for money. Putting my time and effort into IPL was a wise decision.”
Preity has had a make over and is back with a bang, “Seriously, I’ve come back, rejuvenated and charged and raring to go.”
People Magazine – Aug. 14th, 2009 (Written) August 19, 2009
Posted by Worship Elle in Interviews.Tags: august, magazine, people
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“I am not heart broken”
Her relationship with Ness Wadia was “fantastic” While it lasted, But Preity Zinta on moving. After Bliss full holiday aboard she is ready to get back to movies and life as singleton
Days after ,sitting in her 14th floor sea facing office in Bandra ,Preity was picture of sincerity and calm .Above all she radiated a confidence that announced that she was completely in charge of her life .”This my time and I’m going to hold on to it,” she announced with a smile .The four week holiday in Los angles ,London and Paris has worked it’s magic. Lighter in spirit , the only excess luggage “ she had returned was courtesy her shopping spree in Paris.
Spend in the company of loved ones ,the holiday was the perfect antidote to exhaustion and recent pressures .With the break ,Preity had gracefully turned her back on a series of troubling reports .Some were minor irritants like tales of romance with high profile New work –based Vikram Chatwal,Aussie cricketer Brett Lee as well as her Kings XI Punjab team captain and old time pal Yuvraj Singh.But all these paled in comparison with confirmation of the news that she and long time steady companion , Ness Wadia had broken up.
Preity ok being a ‘bechari’, than a ‘bitch’ July 25, 2009
Posted by Worship Elle in Behind The Seam, Interviews.Tags: Har Pall, ipl, Main Aur Mrs Khanna, Farah Khan, Indian Premier League, Behind the Seam
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Thursday night-Friday morning, as a heavy rain lashed Mumbai, Preity Zinta slipped out, taking a flight to London and from there to Preity Zinta
places she did not want to disclose… where she had “shoots to complete, ad films to make, business meetings to attend, and a couple of other things bunched together”.
She won’t be back till October, but said she was excited to get out, I did not blame her. Since Preity’s disastrous outing at the IPL in South Africa, where I don’t know which was her greater loss – cricket or love, the press had been on her case. “I don’t deny the fact that I’m single,” she had told me then. “I’ve not spoken about my personal life and I won’t do it now. I’d rather be the bechari than the bitch!” I did not ask about Ness Wadia, instead, I asked if men hit on her again. “Sure,” Preity had replied with her dimpled smile, “all the time, but the press hits on me as well!” Then, with some josh, “But I’m the same person, with the same values, just because I’m single it does not mean I’m breaking marriages. Don’t link me with every Tom, Dick and Harry.”
Now we spoke again as she completed last minute chores, the clock throwing silent minutes into the night, taking her closer to departure time. She had spent the last three weeks in Mumbai working on Main Aur Mrs Khanna (yes, it’s Kareena Kapoor’s film, but with Preity), there’s a little bit of dubbing left, and the film is being readied for Diwali. Her other film Har Pal, with the unfortunate rape accused Shiney Ahuja, will hopefully be released by the end of the year. She has two new films on hand, but has been reading more scripts, and is also working on a cricket show for television. “It’s called Behind The Seam and is going to be a look through my eyes at cricket in South Africa. Yes, I’ve restricted myself to the IPL, but the show’s much more than that. I’m producing it. What do you mean who’s idea is it? Mine, why! My idea of cricket was different before the IPL. I thought, you held the bat, threw the ball, got applauded if you hit a six, cursed if you got out! Besides the crazy cricket fan, that’s what everyone sees. So I’ve taken people behind the scenes, where the hard work and the heartache takes place, yes, yes, I’m in it, the camera follows me everywhere in South Africa. Except into my personal life… you won’t find it even here!”
She has been making brave statements about next year’s IPL, about how she’ll be there, because she’s not just financially involved with her team, but also emotionally attached to the business of cricket now. “That’s how I am, that’s my personality, if I’m not attached, I cannot be passionate about what I’m doing,” she had said. But there are many more runs to be scored in international cricket, records to be broken, before the IPL gets down to business again. And even if she is not into cricket then, Preity Zinta will always be an actress, so come in Bollywood! “I’m going to pull out a lot of surprises,” she promised. “This year, the films that will release will release, but now I’m excited because my career is going exactly the place I want it to go. I’ve always wanted to go in different directions and grow.
That’s why I ventured into cricket. And as an actor, I’m my own factory, I’m looking at doing films that add value to my body of work. Like The Last Lear, Heaven On Earth, Heroes… I feel so good I did them, they’re away from commercial cinema and take lesser time to make, and yet they take me to another horizon.”
But now she wants to get back to commercial cinema, she wants to be the actress that people would like to see. “Farah Khan was shooting me the other day and I had on this robe with a sexy thing underneath. I refused to take it off. Farah asked, ‘What’s wrong with you?’ And I replied, ‘Punjab Cricket Board kya sochenga?’ So, I’m looking at being the quintessential Preity Zinta again, but with an edge,” she said. I didn’t want her to lose her flight, but I had a question to ask: was she happy, finally? “As much as I can, I’m enjoying every moment of my life,” Preity replied.
“People can say what they want, the press can say what it wants, I’m not going to give five interviews to clarify… the fans judge me by the way I perform. Now I’m in my own space. I’m like a jack-in-the-box. When I’m in, I’m down. But once I’m out, I’m out!”
Bring on the bubbly July 24, 2009
Posted by Worship Elle in Interviews.Tags: Har Pal, Main Aur Mrs Khanna, manish malhotra, Behind the Seam
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Preity Zinta is back to being her bubbly effervescent self. And with good reasons too. Zinta is producing a cricket- based show Behind The Seam – which she will anchor. “There is so much to cricket that one doesn’t know about and so many things happening off the field, so it finds a way into my show,” she dimples. Dressed impeccably in black trousers and a black top, a grey patent leather belt accentuating a narrow waist and really high heels, the actor has not lost her fortitude. She’s back, armed with new learning such as hedging the dollar, handling team endorsements, marketing and ground opportunities with co-owner Mohit Burman among other things. But clearly her heart lies in showbiz.
When I ask her if the spate of photographs of her hugging skipper Yuvraj Singh was distressing, she flashes an indignant look and then, “People judge you through their mentalities. In sports, there is an adrenaline rush and you react with spontaneity. There is nothing for me to be ashamed of. In movies, I hug a hero 300 times for a scene, so what’s the fuss about?”
Equally dismissive of reports of the off-field competition among glamourous team owners courtesy new arrival Shilpa Shetty, she says, “The biggest and most glamorous star Shah Rukh Khan was already a part of the game; as for women, Juhi has been there since the outset. Shilpa joining in was great – the more the merrier.”
Disappointed about her team’s non-performance, she is looking forward to a better run next season. “There were too many injuries in our team,” she answers, rattling off names. She follows it up with a chuckle reminiscing how each time her team players play well in the ongoing matches, she jokingly reminds them of their IPL performance.
The power of no is greater than yes: Preity Zinta July 24, 2009
Posted by Worship Elle in Interviews.Tags: Movies, Indian Premier League, kya kehna, Mohit Burman
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“You’re next,” the PR lady informs me, as I sit on the sofa in the midst of a media jamboree at Preity Zinta’s fourteenth floor office in a
Bandra highrise off Carter Road. The interview will take some time. Preity’s behind schedule, with hacks before me having overshot their time limits. As I strain my ear, I can faintly hear her sharply answering the questions of the journalist before me.
The thought of interviewing a filmstar on management is already causing me quite a bit of a trepidation. Just as I prepare to go in, another journo leans forward and whispers, ‘She is talking about the break-up’ . Great! The world wants to know about the breakup (her break-up with Bombay Dyeing scion Ness Wadia) and I want to talk business . Just what the doctor ordered.
After dropping the initial thought of changing the storyline to the more with-it business of break-up , I decide to stick to the original brief. Just then the door opens and she sees off another one of my ilk with a warm handshake . It’s my turn NOW. Clad in a monochromatic ensemble, the lady flashes her famous dimpled smile, “ Hello …Preity,” she says.
Civilities over, sitting across a standard office table complete with a swivel chair, the hazel-eyed actor and I negotiate the terms of the interview . “I want to discuss business: not the breakup” I say. “Thank God. Then I can unwind and talk freely!” she replies. I too heave a sigh of relief and without much ado, dive into the interview .
Over the next 40-45 minutes, we cover some ground on her career, movies, the IPL stint and her business plans. She has an interesting spin on everything and is capable of taking a very pedantic tone on the mantras of success and life lessons. She has the ability to shoot off totally irreverent answers to a serious query and then can also throw you off balance as she leads the interview into another direction with her giggles and oneliners.
For journalists looking at bowling a googly with the hope of stumping her, she doesn’t offer much chance because she plays with a straight bat and always on the front foot. “I always follow my heart and my guts. If I want to do something, I have immense belief in hardwork and myself. I have it in me to do well anywhere and in anything I do.
Back on Track July 10, 2009
Posted by mSzHindO in Behind The Seam, Interviews, News.Tags: Behind the Seam, cricket, Har Pall, interview
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We’ve seen you only at cricket matches for a while. Have you decided to stay away from Bollywood?
No way, I will never leave this industry. The business of cricket just kept me very busy. I did some roles that I really wanted to do without thinking about it commercially and I was just taking it easy. I also went for a long holiday where I did a lot of shopping.
Did you take the holiday to get over your relationship?
I took a three-week holiday after the IPL last year too so I don’t know what all this fuss is about. If people think that’s the reason, let them. I don’t really care what everybody thinks. When you’re down and out, it’s easy for people to kick you. I’m very happy and I don’t care about anything else.
Are you going to get back to the glamour industry now?
I’m actually very excited to be back. When I was shooting the other day, I realised just how much I’ve missed the glamour factor. When you do business or serious roles, it’s mentally taxing. It felt good to do something frivolous and just enjoy it.
And you’re returning with a television show?
Well, I do have two films— Mr and Mrs Khanna and Har Pal. But, yes, I’m most excited about the new TV show on cricket called Behind the Seam which I will be a big part of. It’s a really interesting show about cricket. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at everything about cricket, except the match itself.
Does this mean that your stint in business is over?
The businesswoman Preity is here to stay. While I will be attached to the film industry, I want to try my hand at more businesses. I’m definitely going to branch out to more than cricket.
Has the new lot of heroines taken over your territory?
I admire the new lot of heroines. They are so well groomed, not like when I came into the industry and was such a tomboy. These girls already have the perfect hair, perfect make-up, perfect clothes. But I have no interest in dancing to a few songs and just hanging around in a film anymore. I don’t want to do that but somebody will and that’s the job of the newer lot. The kind of roles that I’m being offered, they don’t have the experience to do that. It would be like asking me to crawl after I’ve started running.
Will the Shiney Ahuja incident affect the release of Har Pal?
It’s such an unfortunate incident. My heart goes out completely to his parents and wife. But nothing can affect a good film. And what have Dharmendra, Isha Koppikar and I done wrong? It’s three against one here and I’m sure the film will do just fine.
