NEWS

Preity Zinta, the Rajput girl from Shimla, grew up a tomboy; yet, she today personifies cute, innocence, and sexy all at the same time. With no godfather in Bollywood, she still managed to carve her very own niche in the biggest film industry in the world. She’s the voice of the millions of modern Indians across the world and the echoes of these voices are deafening in her interviews. She speaks with INDIA New England about her passions, life, love and career.

What made you take up the cause of blood donation?

With a little of our blood so many people can live, so why not? We need to spread awareness, and at the same time chase away whatever fears people may have about blood donation. My blood boils when nothing is done about things that we can do a lot about. Everyone doing their little bit can make such a big difference, but most of us don’t know what we are really capable of.

“Jhoom Barabar Jhoom” has not gone so well. What made you decide to do this film?

I think the madness in the script. It’s the only film where, when the script was narrated to me, I didn’t have any point to pick and say that there is a problem in this. It’s very fast, it moves well, it’s really funny and it’s got great humour. It has also got a great story behind it, and each character has a layer and more then anything else when you watch it and come outside, you have this whole feeling like, phew! And that’s it!

Do you always enjoy doing glamorous roles like these?

As an actor I would want variety in my career, in my life and of course, variety is the spice. In “Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna,” I play a much more serious and much more sober and a little bit more groomed and little more older character. In “Jhoom Barabar Jhoom” it’s more fun. It’s younger and of course, it’s glamorous. Thanks to Shaad [Ali] and Adi (Aditya Chopra) and thanks to Aki Narula who makes such great costumes. But as along as your role demands it, it is what it is; but then, if your role doesn’t demand all this glamour and then to get all dolled up is a little off your rocker.

We heard there were some wacky scenes on the sets of the film?

We were shooting this dance sequence and it was the first day of the shoot and everyone was really excited and we were like, ‘Yes, we are going to go for it,’ and I was dancing and suddenly I felt this piercing pain in my foot and I looked down Lara [Dutta] who is 5 ft 8 inches tall and she was wearing a five-inch heel dug into my foot and made a hole in my foot and I screamed.

And then, just when I was just recovering from it and I got rid of the stitches and I was getting ready to go on set again, then Bobby [Deol] put his “Punjab da haath” and whacked my face so I remember falling off and seeing the plane, train and the submarine together. I think leaving all this aside, we had such a blast.

Let’s talk about your association with Ness Wadia. When are you planning to settle down?

I am sorry to break your heart, but I am not going to get married right now. It’s nice to know that everybody is so concerned about me and I promise that I’ll make a public announcement the day I decide to get married.

How much is knowledge of psychology an asset in Bollywood? Do you evaluate people and characters better, or protest against inconsistencies in your character?

Knowledge, in general, increases awareness, changes perspectives and broadens horizons. My speciality was forensic science and crime and criminals, so yes, I am more observant, and can read body language better. One of the things psychology has also taught me is tolerance, and to be non-judgmental.

- Indianewengland.com