Preity Zinta is feeling on the top of the world. Her "Salaam Namaste" is a hit. And she has just completed her work in Shirish Kunder's "Jaan-e-Man" and is now into Karan Johar's "Kabhi Alvidaa Na Kehna".

"No two films, set-ups and directors could be more different. I am so excited," Preity Zinta told IANS from New York.

But there's also the downside. "I am so home-sick! I am living my life out of suitcases. I have been away from home for so long I have forgotten what Mumbai looks like.

"I want to walk the streets of my city. I miss the city and specially the food so much! Is Mumbai cleaner now? I hope it is!"

She pauses for breath, and then cheers up at the mention of "Salaam Namaste". "I believe it's even bigger than 'Charlie & The Chocolate Factory' in Australia!

"I spoke to my exhibitor-friend in Mumbai. He told me that the three biggest hits of 2005 in India are 'Bunty Aur Babli,' 'No Entry' and 'Salaam Namaste'... It feels great!

"We were going into a rather dangerous territory - live-in relationship and all. But we knew what we were doing. 'Salaam Namaste' reflects the reality about relationships today.

"The director Siddharth Anand was new, but so sure of what he had to say."

She perks up even more while speaking about her co-star.


"Saif and I go back a long way... to my very first film 'Kya Kehna'. And guess what? I was an unwed mom in that too and Saif was the illegitimate father. Small world, huh?

"Saif and I just decided to get back to basics again," she chuckles as only Preity can.

"But seriously Saif and I share such a wonderful rapport. It showed up in all the four films we have done so far. All of them are hits. Yaaaaaaay!"

She lets out a whoop of unconcealed delight. It's 12.45 a.m. in New York and Preity is chewing on a salad. She's all keyed up to go into "Kabhi Alvidaa Na Kehna".

"My first film with Karan Johar as director. And he goes into a totally unexplored territory. To that extent I guess I will be building on my reputation as an actor who takes risks.

"Karan is such an entertainer, one can never get bored on his sets. I am really looking forward to working with him... and Shah Rukh who's an absolute delight as a co-star.

"And to add to my excitement I will be working with my buddy Abhishek Bachchan for the first time. The only time we have shared camera space was on 'Koffee With Karan'.

"Now I guess Karan will make us have more than just coffee. As for Amitabh Bachchan, unke baare mein jitna kahaa jaye kam hai... Hey, my Hindi is still ok in spite of my NRI status for so many months!"

She chuckles some more at the mention of her female co-star Rani Mukherjee. "She's my good luck charm. Every film we did together was a big hit. I am sure 'Kabhi Alvidaa Na Kehna' would also be a success."

She's all praise for her "Jaan-e-Man" director Shirish Kunder and co-stars Akshay Kumar and Salman Khan. "Shirish hardly talks but his takings are terrific. Akshay and I had done one of my early films 'Sangharsh' together.

"It's so strange to hear people in New York talking about my 'Sangharsh' rather than 'Salaam Namaste'. Akshay is great fun... As for Salman... no uneasy moments at all! It was all cool!

"I believe the forensic experts back home have declared the tapes to be untrue. Thank god the clouds of controversy have lifted. I am getting a little tired of being put right in the middle of crises when I have nothing to do with them."

Back home the media is buzzing with rumours that Preity will play Sonia Gandhi.

"I would love to. I have a lot of admiration for her. What a life! And what a staggering range of emotions to portray for an actress!

"But I haven't been approached for the role. I have met Jagmohan Mundra once briefly about two years ago. And that certainly had nothing to do with Sonia Gandhi."

She added: "I needed to re-orient myself. 'Kabhi Alvidaa Na Kehna' is so different from 'Jaan-e-Man' which is fun and a cool casual entertainer. Karan's film is different!"





- By Subhash K Jha

__________________
I don't have an attitude problem. You have a perception problem.

If you can't see the bright side of life, polish the dull side.

Never argue with a fool. People might not know the difference.

When you're right, no one remembers. When you're wrong, no one forgets.

(Wo)man’s best friend

What do Bipasha Basu, Preity Zinta, Celina Jaitley, Kim Sharma and Bhairavi Goswami have in common? Almost nothing, except for the fact that they’re all proud dog owners — a group to which Preity appears to be the newest entrant.

The dimpled actress was spotted at a pet shop off Linking Road with a buddy yesterday evening, shopping for a bed for a tiny pup. The little fellow went along on the shopping trip too, but one may easily have missed seeing him because Preity carried him close to her in a bag made especially for the purpose.

If Preity’s buying spree was anything to go by, this little fellow’s life ahead is looking like a bed of roses.

__________________
I don't have an attitude problem. You have a perception problem.

If you can't see the bright side of life, polish the dull side.

Never argue with a fool. People might not know the difference.

When you're right, no one remembers. When you're wrong, no one forgets.

Ness's surprise party for Preity
February 3, 2006
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Preity Zinta

Bombay Dyeing scion Ness Wadia threw a surprise party for his actress-girlfriend Preity Zinta, at the Hard Rock Café in Worli, on January 31.
Princess Preity

Conspicuous by their absence were Ness’s parents, Nusli and Maureen Wadia.

Says a source was present at the party, “I was there till 2 am, and till then, Nusli and Maureen hadn’t come. The cake was fantastic; it was called Princess Preity and was shaped like a princess’s crown. Ness’s princess came attired casually, in a blue denim skirt, top and boots, as she was clueless about the bash. Ness had personally called and invited everybody.�

Who was there?

Some of the other guests who attended the bash were Gauri Khan (without party-partner Karan Johar, who is busy with his film); hubby Shah Rukh was supposed to come but dropped out when Paheli lost out on the Oscar nominations.



Bobby Deol, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Queenie Dhody, Neelam, Manish Malhotra, Arun Nayyar (without Liz Hurley), Tania Zaetta and Saif Ali Khan’s girlfriend, Rosa (he is shooting in Lucknow for Othello),
T-Series owner Bhushan Kumar, with wife, Riteish Deshmukh and Dino Morea were some of the other guests.

Preity’s buddies and co-stars in Janeman, Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar, and directors Shirish Kunder and Farah Khan (who’s choreographing Janeman) were noticeably absent. Farah is busy shooting for Indian Idol till February 6.

Janeman, janeman

Sajid Nadiadwala, a friend of the actress and the producer of Janeman, was present at the party.

He said, “It was a surprise bash for Preity, thrown by Ness. Preity didn’t know; she came at 12 am herself. Ness, too, was casually attired, in pyjamas. I didn’t know it was a surprise either. I had just dropped in to say hi, and hadn’t got Wardha (his wife) along.

Preity is a very good actress and a wonderful person — very caring and straightforward. She’s open and friendly, a good buddy to have.�

The third schedule of Janeman will commence this month; 70 per cent of the film is complete.

__________________
I don't have an attitude problem. You have a perception problem.

If you can't see the bright side of life, polish the dull side.

Never argue with a fool. People might not know the difference.

When you're right, no one remembers. When you're wrong, no one forgets.

Even as the Indian Idol 2 eliminations get more and more crucial, the celebrity guests get bigger and bigger.


Come Monday, it is none other than Preity Zinta in the honourary judge's chair, joining regulars Anu Malik, Farah Khan and Sonu Nigam.
After Panna Gill's exit, the competition is intense. Who will survive the next round? And how distracting are Preity's dimples, up close?


Watch the star on a vital episode of Indian Idol 2 this Monday, February 20 at 9 pm on Sony Entertainment Television.

__________________
I don't have an attitude problem. You have a perception problem.

If you can't see the bright side of life, polish the dull side.

Never argue with a fool. People might not know the difference.

When you're right, no one remembers. When you're wrong, no one forgets.

Fall Girl



Every time Preity Zinta falls, her film hits the bull’s eye, or so she believes



Ram Kamal Mukherjee



Not many know this but Preity Zinta feels that she must have a fall during the shooting of her film, for the film to be a box office success. So, when she shot for Karan Johar's Kabhie Alvida Naa Kehna in London and Mumbai, the entire unit waiting with baited breath for Preity to fall. “Unfortunately, I didn't fall even once during the shooting of the film in London,” says Preity.

This worried Karan no end. Naturally, he wants his film to succeed. “I guess their prayers were finally granted,” laughs Preity. “While shooting for the song sequence 'Where is the party tonight' in Mumbai, I was doing a jig with Abhishek when I suddenly toppled and fell down. You should have seen the smile on Karan and Abhishek's face! It's almost as if they had wished my fall.”

Well, the fate of the film will be known soon enough. Preity, however, insists this is one of her best performances so far. “Karan had held a special trial of the film and after watching it, I was at a loss for words. Usually, whenever I watch his films, I always call him immediately to give him my feedback. But this time I took a day to get back to him,” she says.

Although shooting for KANK was a fun-filled working experience, Preity says that she really missed Yash Johar's presence during the outdoor of the film. “Yash uncle has always been a pillar of support for Karan. But, his mother, Hiroo aunty who is producing KANK kept me company in London. I never take my parents along for outdoors, which makes me a lonely person in the unit. So, I really bonded with Hiroo aunty. She was caring and created a homely atmosphere,” says Preity.

Putting rest to all rumours of animosity between the two, Preity commends co-star Rani Mukherji for her brilliant performance in the film. “Rani has been performing really well since Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. Also, I feel that Kirron Kher is the surprise package in KANK, watch out for her,” says Preity.

Preity will soon leave for a month-long schedule for Shaad Ali's Jhoom Bara Bar Jhoom. “I have become an NRI, thanks to Yashraj and Dharma Productions. Even Sajid Nadiadwala did the entire filming of Jaan-E-Maan in New York. I hardly get time to shoot in India these days,” she says.

Ask her about her new projects, and Preity refuses to talk about them. She replies, “Hurry will spoil the curry, and being a true Indian, I can't afford to have spoilt curry!”

__________________
I don't have an attitude problem. You have a perception problem.

If you can't see the bright side of life, polish the dull side.

Never argue with a fool. People might not know the difference.

When you're right, no one remembers. When you're wrong, no one forgets.

After Bollywood & Hollywood cinemas, now a days Bhojpuri Cinema is also in buzz and making news as it's getting tremendous response from viewers and is on successful films right now.

Seeing the popularity of Bhojpuri cinema, now singers & actors from Bollywood are also joining it and doing work there. The newest member from Bollywood who is acting in the Bhojpuri film entitled 'Kamal Kayeel Raja', is none other than our own chulbuli, naughty & one of top actress' today, Preity Zinta.

Preity will be seen as Jaanu in this film and South's Venkatesh is her co-artist. According to the story, during the marriage of her friend, Jannu falls in love with a guy named Murali. Along with Bhojpuri dialogues, the viewers will also be seeing Preity giving 'Thumkaaa...' on a Bhojpuri number.

A Ruchi Film Presents, produced by Balram Sharma the film has been made on North Indian & Bihar's background. According to producer for the first time the audiences will watch the fabulous dance sequence on wonderful Bhojpuri songs as well as the tremendous action by Venkatesh and they will definitely likes it.

Preity is very happy & excited by working in 'Kamal Kayeel Raja'. She says today Bhojpuri cinema is changing and various actors / singers are doing work there. I also wanted to be the part of it and got the opportunity in this film. I have gone through the wonderful memories & experiences, as it was completely the new thing for me. I enjoyed being the part of the film and also enjoyed giving Thumkaa... on desi Bhojpuri song.

__________________
I don't have an attitude problem. You have a perception problem.

If you can't see the bright side of life, polish the dull side.

Never argue with a fool. People might not know the difference.

When you're right, no one remembers. When you're wrong, no one forgets.