She may not be dazzling the silver screen these days, but Preity Zinta has been keeping herself busy all this while. In a conversation with Swati Chaturvedi of Spicezee.com on her chat show ‘Kahiye Janab’, Preity, who claims to have ‘two careers’ now, talked about her experience of ‘going back to school’ and expressed her take on Indian politics.

Excerpts:

Swati: You’ve not been around for a quite a while now. What apart from endorsements have you been doing?

Preity: Movies, cricket, living life of course, and studying!

Swati: Two weeks back on this show, I had told Katrina (Kaif) that you had gone to Harvard for studying, and she couldn’t believe it. She was shocked. Do you think it’s strange for an actress to do what you’ve done?

Preity: See, I’m an individual first and then an actress. When I realised that I didn’t have anything much to do during those two months, I thought why not! And I always wanted to do that particular business course from Harvard. It was about negotiations – about deal making, and I had to study a lot, I used to get up at 5.00 in the morning… I’ve never worked so hard even for films. But I enjoyed it. Now I have two careers – actress and deal making.

Swati: So there will be better negotiations when you discuss a deal with Lalit Modi now?

Preity: No… you guys are giving it a very filmy outlook… so nothing like that. But I mean for acting, the only course that I’ve ever done was for Deepa Mehta’s ‘Heaven On Earth’. And when I did that I realised that there was so much for me to learn… I realised that I should have done that earlier. So if I get a chance and I have the time, I’d love to do a longer course.

Swati: In my opinion, actors earn major amount of their money from endorsements these days and films are just for creative satisfaction. What do you have to say about that?

Preity: See, there’s a market for endorsements. Films are not just for creative satisfaction, it’s just that your perspective keeps changing with what you do. I always used to do films with the perspective of an actress, but when I ventured into IPL, I started thinking from the perspective of a brand… you know, Kings XI Punjab is a brand for me…I used to keep thinking – when we have red and silver there, we shouldn’t have blue – like that.

Swati: They say that most of the actresses here are dumb blondes. What do you have to say about that?

Preity: No, that’s completely untrue. I think that if you have become an actress of that level, you can’t be dumb. You know for doing the role of a doctor, you really have to learn about that profession, and put yourself in the shoes of a doctor. When I played the character of Romilla Dutta, a reporter, in ‘Lakshya’, I really had to learn so much about the guns and everything…you know you have to be aware of that…so it’s always enriching to be a heroine. I believe that if you are not very threatening, you are called dumb here.

Swati: I’m sure you would hate the word ‘bubbly’ (laughs)… don’t you?

Preity: I mean it’s all right…I’m bubbly, but there are so many other traits of my character. I’m thoughtful, deep thinking, I like to write…I like to put my thoughts on paper. Then I’m also interested in sports…I’ve myself said so many times that I talk a lot, but then there are times when I’m very quiet…so there are lots of traits of my personality other than that.

Swati: Do you think you have been typecast?

Preity: See, I think every heroine is typecast, but you have to really fight with that image, like I’ve done so many serious roles too… I have done a variety of roles in my career, from a reporter to a doctor to a battered wife to urban women.

Swati: Any plans of taking up politics, because it seems that you would do really good as a politician?

Preity: I don’t want to be a politician. For me, if I ever was a politician, I would just love my country.

Swati: So what do have to say about the state of Indian politics right now?

Preity: I’m not happy with the condition of politics in our country. You know our GDP is high, Indians are doing so well for themselves…but still you have people escaping out of various small cities of the country as they don’t have the basic facilities there. I mean why someone has Rs 20,000 crores and someone doesn’t have even Rs 20,000 here…so that has to be taken care of. Even during the Mumbai terror attacks, NSG commandos had to take buses… that’s bad.

But one thing I like about Congress is that it’s allowing the youth to come forward. In films also, since the time young blood has taken over, we’ve started getting better films. It’s a young country, so it’s important that the youth comes forward. So, I request the government to give us leaders that we can be inspired by.

Swati: One last thing… is Preity Zinta single and ready to mingle?

Preity: I’m absolutely single.

Swati: And ready to mingle? (laughs)

Preity: (Laughs) That’s a weird question!

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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!

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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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No Bollywood 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.

So does she agree that 2009 has not been a fruitful year for her acting career, and pat comes the reply,” I also did Deepa Mehta’s ‘Heaven on Earth’ which won me best actress internationally which no commercial Bollywood actress has won. So it makes me feel great.” Preity, who won the Best Actress award at the 2008 Chicago International Film Festival for ‘Heaven on Earth’, is relieved that IPL is back in the country and so is she with her ‘Har Pal’, directed by National-Award winning directer Jahnu Barua which will see a unique chemistry between Preity and Shiney Ahuja. “‘Har Pal’ is very contemporary. Everybody thinks that it is very serious and intense film. But it is not. It is very much fun and commercial,” the actress said.

The actress may have been out for long but is humbled that her filmmaker friends in the industry have welcomed her with open arms. “I am very lucky to be working with filmmakers who always have supported me when I had no backing,” Preity said. But her disappearance from films has surely been the talk of the tinsel town, “My friends in the industry tease me saying ‘Oh Preity has made too much money she is not interested in films now’,” Preity joked. “But now I am mentally prepared. Everything is set. IPL is going to be held in India. I am ready to work again with full commitment. In 2010 I’ll be working back to back at a couple of projects. You going to see a lot of me now,” said Preity.

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In addition to WWW, I was inspired to make a Preity Zinta collage on “What would she wear if…”. I hope you get inspired! The photos used in the picture are all courtesy of net-a-porter.com

Dabur Vatika hair Oil Ad Campaign
Dabur Vatika Dandruff Control Shampoo
Dabur Vatika Enriched Almond Hair Oil
IPL Gala Dinner
Launch of ‘Cricket FanZone’ with mig33
Filmfare – December 9, 2009
Main Aur Mrs. Khanna – Screen captures
Filmfare – June 2007
Preity at Harvard Business School (Nov. 2009)
Mission Kashmir – Screen captures

The world of showbiz may be full of catfights and raging egos but that does not stop actress Preity Zinta from complimenting Kajol on her “outstanding” performance in ‘My Name Is Khan’.

With Bollywood’s golden couple Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol coming together after almost a decade, the film is one of the most awaited releases of 2010, but Preity has already given her verdict. “I saw some of the film’s (My Name Is Khan) footage and she is outstanding in it and so is Shahrukh and I think it will be great movie,” Preity, who was here in the capital as the brand ambassador of Dabur Vatika Hair Oil, said.

Preity can even bet on the fact that no body could have done the role better than Kajol. “Look at Kajol. She goes and gets married, has a kid. She disappears for three years and she comes back does some thing like ‘My Name Is Khan’ and she is so good in the film. I can bet that none of the actresses can stand in front of her,” Preity said.

Karan Johar directed ‘My Name is Khan’ is set to hit the theaters in Feb next year and stars Shah Rukh as Rizvan Khan, an unconventional hero, who embarks on an incredible journey in order to win back the love of his life (Kajol). And along the way, his unique brand of goodness and humanity touches the lives of many and inspires a nation.

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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.

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Priety Zinta who turned matchmaker for her friends, Eesha Koppikar and Timmy Narang was missing from their sangeet ceremony on Sunday.

It is known that Priety was the one who introduced Eesha to Timmy Narang. All three of them used to work out at the same gym. Thus, it was surprising to know that Preity who hooked them up was missing from the scene.

Interestingly, Preity’s ex boyfriend Ness Wadia was present at the sangeet ceremony to greet the couple. According to a close friend of Preity Zinta’s, she was invited for the sangeet, but couldn’t make it to the function since she is in LA. “But she will try to attend the wedding on Sunday,” we’re told.

Let’s hope Preity makes it for Eesha’s big day!

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For Preity Zinta, this year has been a year of learnings.

“Someone had told me that in the beginning of the year and rightly so. Today, I’ve learned who my true friends are. I have learned not to trust people easily (after my maid robbed my house).

I have learned new forms of dancing. During Diwali, I learned to gamble and lose too! Karan also taught me not to frown and be too animated while speaking, and now I’m going to be learning at the Harvard Business School where I’ve been accepted for a short executive course in negotiating and deal-making,” she said. Not to let criticism affect her, PZ who had been written off by “regressive journalists”, said, “Let them write me off… I’ll keep coming back. I’m producing and hosting a cricket show for TV and will also be making an appearance on the Yash Chopra show that will be hosted by Karan Johar,” said the perky actress, who’s looking for a new innings in the industry.

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