Preity Zintabad!

"Sex appeal is not a physical thing at all. It's much beyond that. I think mine lies in my integrity. I'm honest and forthright - those are my best qualities"

Preity Zinta has her feet planted firmly on the ground. Be it playing an unwed mother (Kya Kehna), portraying a character much older than herself (Veer Zara) or setting the screen on fire with a sizzling smooch (Salaam Namaste) this babe's done it all... and been celebrated for it too. Currently in New York where she's shooting Jaaneman and Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna, Preity Zinta is cruising on the high waves of stardom.

How close is character of Ambar to Preity?

The favored flavor on the big screen, Salaam Namaste's 'Ambar' is bubbly and bright in real life and wants to live her zindagi on her own terms. In fact, she says the character of Ambar is quite close to the asli Preity Zinta "Though there's a little bit of me in every role I play, I'm quite like Ambar. She's a girl of today who knows what she wants and how to get it. She takes responsibility for her actions and is ready to face the consequences. I like that." Toned and sexy in the film, Zinta confesses to having worked grueling hours with her trainer to get into super shape. "But that didn't keep me away from my aloo parathas, the piggy that I am," she laughs.

So do live-in relationships like Ambar's get the nod from Preity?

"Not a chance. There's a difference between living in the same house with somebody and sharing the same room. For somebody like me, who values her freedom way too much, it makes just no sense to live-in. I'm very independent. If I believed in live-in relationships, I would have already done it by now. Plus, my live-in partner would have to stay in a suitcase since that's practically what I live out of!" Home, though, spells Mumbai for Preity. "I just loved the feeling of getting my first pay cheque, buying my own apartment - it all gives me a sense of independence which is unmatched. And I wouldn't give it up for anything."

If she's not willing to give up her freedom, does that mean getting 'tied' to one person is out of the question?

"No, no. I do want to get married and have a family at some point, but not immediately. Right now, I'm busy working, traveling, and living my life to the fullest. Plus, I've always been so open about my life. When it's time for me to announce my wedding plans, rest assured, I will."

Preity believes that behind-the-scenes positive energy is translated into great onscreen chemistry.

"Saif and I are great friends and I'm sure that comes across on screen." Was that why it was easy to lock lips with him in Salaam Namaste? "Well, I don't usually do these things on screen but I think the script demanded that Ambar and Nick come extremely close and be very intimate before they could fall out the way they did. After all, it's familiarity that breeds contempt. And if Ambar wasn't so involved with Nick, she would have just given up on him and walked out of the house and there would be no film."

Whether it's Kya Kehna, Lakshya or Salaam Namaste, Preity has always dared to do rotes that are zara hatke.

"I think the audience needs to be given interesting cinema. There are so many ways to tell a love story, we need to break out of the tried-and-tested formula. I believe both art and cinema are a reflection of the times we live in. And I am sure I want to be a part of films that are entertaining as well as progressive."

Acting is a crazy profession but she loves it to bits.

"I don't always carry the character I'm playing back home with me. But there are tots of times when I'm just chilling out with friends and I get a brainwave on how a certain scene should be done. That way I'm quite a space cadet,"

Talking of movies, how important are awards for the actor Preity Zinta?

"Awards are important but hits are more important," she says, "A hit is proof that your work is watched and appreciated by the masses. Awards mean that a small section of people like you."

A student of psychology, Preity feels any form of education is a window to the world.

"It changes your perception of how things are and how they should be. More than just helping me understand people better, I think my education has broadened my horizons and given me more perspective in life."

Preity Zinta ko gussa kyu aata hai?

"I'm so thrilled that forensic reports have proved the Salman-Aishwarya conversations were forged. My name came up in an extremely derogatory manner in those tapes. It's very embarrassing to be written about like this. I'm also somebody's sister; I hope action is taken against those who initiated this malicious gossip."

So what if I didn't have a godfather in the industry?

"I have always believed that God is up there and is looking after me. He's on my team. No planning and plotting can get you a role in a big banner film. I like to give my best and I'm happy with what I have. I was in Colombo when the bomb blast took place and then I was in Phuket where the tsunami took away some of my very dear friends. These have been life changing experiences for me. I've realised that whether you're a beggar or a star, you're basically human. And if tragedy strikes, you will be equally affected. Today, I think life is about living in the moment. I don't bother about the petty things I don't have and try and be happy with all that I have been given. Before I die, I want to be satisfied with all I've done in my life. And I want to live each day to the fullest. At the risk of sounding cliched, kal ho na ho..."

Preity thinks Kajol is a phenomenal actor and is looking forward to seeing her in action once again. And who's the best actress in the industry today?

"Why, me, of course!"

JUST loved Salaam Namaste... the makers deserve a real applause for making a truly contemporary film and not being prudish about it !! High time Hindi cinema came out from behind the flowers n trees !!

Here's Preity and her current boyfriend... who incidentally, was featured in the above movie.. just for 1 micro-second !! Luv ke liye kuch bhi karega

(oh that pic attachment would have been so much easier :huh: )





By Naresh Kumar - Eye TV India Bureau

Tete-a-Tete

Preity Zinta is talk of the tinsel town these days for various reasons .The first and foremost is that Ness Wadia, scion of the Bombay Dyeing group, and Preity Zinta, the spunky Bollywood beauty, will soon enter into wedlock. This is evident from the fact that Ness and Zinta visited the Vaishnodevi shrine in Jammu last month along with Zinta's mother.


Isn't this a prelude to the formal announcement of matrimony? Anyway, this is going to be an exemplary marriage inasmuch as Jinnah's grandson Ness belongs to all almost all religions, including Parsis, Muslims, Catholics and Protestants, and would marry Preity Zinta, a Hindu girl! Ness though a Parsi, sat through the aarti, at the shrine, to the comfort of Zinta's mother. Interestingly, Nusli is the son of Neville Wadia, heir to an old shipping and textile fortune, who married Dina, Mohammed Ali Jinnah's only daughter. Rati, Dina's mother was from an equally aristocratic family that broke off ties with her after her marriage.

Ness's mother Maureen is the glamorous head of Gladrags.

__________________
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.

Associated Press

Mumbai, October 7, 2005
Preity Zinta says that her friendship with co-actor Saif Ali Khan was affected by media reports of their romance but the two remained good friends, a newspaper reported on Friday. The rumors began flying on the set of their new Salaam Namaste.
"I'd be lying if I said we were not affected by what was being said about us, especially since Saif was going through some personal turmoil himself, but he never let it show," Zinta was quoted as saying.
"We share a great chemistry on screen, and are great friends. The buck stops there." Saif has been dealing with turmoil since he separated from Amrita Singh after a marriage of 14 years.
Zinta said her friendship with Saif had not affected her relations with Rosa.
"Why should it? Rosa is a lovely girl. We went out a couple of times when we were in Australia and it was great fun," she said. Zinta said her own relationship with Ness Wadia, deputy managing director of textile company Bombay Dyeing, was "going places" but didn't elaborate.
"We are going places all right, with my traveling all over the world at the moment," she said. "Ness is a very special person in my life, he makes me laugh and smile. I am in a very beautiful phase of my life."

__________________
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.

By Eye TV India Bureau

In the News

Dimple chick girl of Bollywood Preity Zinta is in the news for
spending most of her time abroad, especially Australia. Earlier, she
was in Australia for her recently released movie 'Salman Namaste' and
now she is shooting there for Karan Johar's forthcoming movie 'Kabhi
Alvida Na Kehna'. Besides, she has a long shooting schedule of Sajid
Nadiadwala's Salman Khan starrer 'Janeman'. Meanwhile, she is also in
the news for her relationship with Ness Wadia, son of a big business
family of India. In the recent past, she had introduced Ness to media
as her friend and at that time no body imagined that Ness would become
her boyfriend and they would think of marriage.

An actress' wish to marry in a rich family is not a new thing in
Bollywood. Tina Munim had married with India' top business family's
younger son Anil Ambani. However, the industry circles wonder whether
the Wadia family will accept Preity as her bahu (daughter- in-law) .
Answering the media query about their relations, Preity says, "This is
not the appropriate time to say anything about our relations, but I
can tell you that I will stop acting in movies after my marriage.
Right now I am busy in my filmi career." We may add that Ness is not
the first boyfriend of Preity, her earlier boyfriend was famous model
Mark Robinson. Robinson had publicly announced his breakup with Preity
saying that "She is more serious about her career than anything else."
Now, it's Ness' turn to take a decision whether to wait for Preity
till she says goodbye to movies or to close the chapter

__________________
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.

Live life, be happy, be a good human being, do good work and buy lovely shoes and bags that’s Advises Preity Zinta
Chic haircut. Fitted white shirt. Trendy sunglasses. Toned body. Really, you can’t ignore the surplus commercial allure. “Isn’t this great?” asks Preity Zinta, strapping her belt tight over her jeans and feeling her newly acquired six-pack abs. “You’ve no idea how hard I’ve worked for this. We were in Australia for three months with Salaam Namaste and after-hours out there were all about intense workouts. Saif and I used to hit the gym with a vengeance and the results are there for all to see!” And she twirls on her toes to give me a better glimpse of her much-exercised body.
We’re at her new office in Bandra, and Preity can’t suppress her excitement at the flutter her new look has created. “I can’t tell you the amount of positive reaction I’ve got for my look in the movie. The media has been asking me whether this is the new improved Preity Zinta. But I thought Veer-Zaara was a new Preity. People complained that I looked old and overweight in the film but that was my diktat. Yash Uncle (director Yash Chopra) wanted me to look a little older and I did. The film was set in the ’80s when women looked fuller, more mature. It wasn’t that I’d let myself go. If I look good in Salaam Namaste, it’s because I’m supposed to look like that.”
We’re talking on the eve of the release of the film and Preity Zinta can’t contain her excited chatter. “Where Salaam Namaste scores is that it deals with live-in relationships, something that hasn’t been explored much in Hindi films. The way the people of a country think, the way they feel, is reflected in its art, its cinema. I think our society is coming of age. Saif said, “Salaam Namaste is a social film disguised as a love story.” That’s so true. It’s a film about changing social mores. I think it’s a great look into relationships and the youth of today who want different things in life. It’s as new as can be. You can’t get more today than Salaam Namaste.”

And would she get into a live-in relationship like the couple in the film? She thinks for a moment and says, “I don’t want to sit in moral judgments on anyone; it’s an individual thing. But I’ve never been in a live-in relationship. Right now, I wouldn’t leave my house to live-in with someone and I don’t know whether anyone would want to live in my house.” Then she cackles, “But I’m living with Zoony. He and I live together. He’s my doggy, my baby.”
Next, I want to know why she’s doing an insignificant role in Karan Johar’s Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna after having played the lead in his earlier film Kal Ho Naa Ho. “I really don’t know who’s spreading such silly stories,” she says incredulously. “I’ve heard pretty crazy stories too about the script and the roles. I’m very excited about the script. But I don’t want to comment on the film or my role right now. I’ll have my say when the film releases. I always go for good scripts and have never really cared about the length of the role. I’m very satisfied with what I’m doing and have every reason to smile.”
True, the going is great at the moment but the actress has touched the dreaded 30 mark. An age most actresses don’t want to even admit to. But Preity Zinta is more upfront. Says she, “All that talk that the actress’ career is over at 30 doesn’t hold true any more. It was true 10 years ago but the whole deal has changed now because our films have changed and so have the characters. Look at all the actresses who are doing well; most of them are in their late 20s and early 30s. We’re slowly going the Hollywood way. The film, the characters have become more important as opposed to the hero-heroine concept.”
The clouds darken outside her window but they can’t diminish Preity Zinta’s zest. “I really feel on top of the world right now,” she says, flashing her dimples. Then adds, “I love my career but I also want to live my life. I don’t want to turn 65 and say hamare zamane mein aisa hota tha. Yes, there’s no sidestep to work. Work is important but so is the rest of my life. My career’s made me what I am today. It’s given me confidence, fame and the freedom to make a choice. You know, we always feel this is the way it’s going to be, but it doesn’t. I’ve seen a lot at an early age. I’ve lost people when I was young and I don’t take life for granted. I want to experience life. And unless I grow personally, I don’t think I’ll grow as an actor.”

But even Preity Zinta, who’s open to all of life’s experiences, found it hard to cope with the uproar the ‘Salman Khan tapes’ caused with some lurid passages involving her name. “I was holidaying in Italy and I didn’t know anything because I’d lost my phone and was completely cut off from India. When I returned, I was shocked to read the papers. I went numb,” she confesses.
Probe a little and she states, “I want to know the authenticity of the tapes and the purpose behind revealing those four-year-old tapes. I think it was done in bad taste. I believe you can’t hold people to ransom without knowing the truth. Anyway, I didn’t have too much time to react to it all because we were caught in the floods soon after that. There was disaster all around. And then I fell sick. So my plate has been full.”
Full, it indeed has been. Post the floods the actress is committed to cleaning up Mumbai. She even set forth amidst the muck, with boyfriend Ness Wadia and friend Shah Rukh Khan to clean up the garbage. Says she, “I really feel very strongly about a clean Mumbai. We live in a dump and it’s high time we get off our butts and do something about it. Why are we so dirty? Why do we scrub our floors and then throw the trash out of the window? Is this an Indian thing? People from all over the world come to Mumbai; what do we say to them? That this is where we live? We need to educate people and instill a stronger civic sense. People have to understand that roads aren’t where you dump your garbage.”
I applaud her commitment, then turn my attention to Ness Wadia. She clams up instantly: “Even if I utter one word it’ll get blown out of proportion.” Okay, what about rumours that she’s seriously thinking of marriage? “Please, there’s nothing in the offing. However, she’s quick to confide, “Of course, I’ll get married one day. But marriage is not a short-term thing for me. And it’s not instant excitement. To me it’s a long-term commitment; it spells security on a long term basis. I want to be married and live happily ever after. I want to have children some day. And I want to bring them up in a very secure background. I don’t want them to grow up to be insecure adults because they’ve had problems in their family life. When marriage happens I hope it’ll be forever.”


You believe marriages are forever, I ask. She replies, “Yes, and my parents are an example of that. Till my dad died, they were perfect together. And I believe that’s possible even today. There are so many examples around us; we Indians are so family oriented. I am what I am because I’m the product of a functional marriage. That’s why I’m secure, no matter what problems may come my way. I can always stand tall with my head held high. And I want that up bringing for my kids too. So it’s very important that I think things out and know my mind before I get into marriage.”
Okay, so what’s the game plan for the moment?
She smiles, “If I had a game plan, I’d never have become an actor. I just flipped a coin and got into the movies. I’m very impulsive and that’ll never change. My only plan right now is to live life, be happy, be a good human-being, do good work and buy lovely shoes and bags.”
And date Ness Wadia?
She chortles, “Ha, ha, ha.”

__________________
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.

There are rumors in the Bollywood that a movie is being planned based on Sania Mirza’s skirt controversy. Preity Zinta will act as Sania and will be wearing real short revealing skirts. The controversy gets deeper as Preity gets into the habit of lifting the short skirts!

__________________
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.