I Feel Like a Magician Sometimes
Preity Proclaims!

We meet Preity Zinta on the sets of 'Tere Ishq Mein Pada Gaya Re' at Filmistan. She and Govinda are shooting a song sequence. Preity is a heroine, who has been wounded and hounded by the media for her tomboyish attitude. The one aspect of glamour world she doesn't like is her privacy being intruded. So, she sits in front of you stone faced: her expressions tell you not to be personal in the interview.


Every other write-up about you refers to your tomboyish nature.

The way the media has categorised me into a particular image is not what I am. There are various aspects to my personality. You can't highlight one aspect and say that's me. If I am sad one day doesn't mean I am a sad human being. I am happy one day, which does not mean I am always happy.

What are the hitherto unknown facets about Preity Zinta?

They are like anybody else.It's just that I am an actress, so people expect me to be larger than life, but in reality I am as normal as anybody else!

What is this story about you coming down from Delhi with model, Anupama Verma and staying back to try your luck as a model?

(Laughs) I have heard 10 silly versions of this. But I am going to tell you the true and the original one. Well, we came to Mumbai to spend a month-long holiday. After which returned to Delhi. Then I came across an opportunity to study Psychology. I decided to study in Mumbai and therefore after five months I came back to Mumbai. There is nothing like we came to Mumbai and I stayed back while Anupama went back. That's silly. I have a family and a house in Delhi and therefore I can't do such a thing.

Today heroines are, more often than not, portrayed like a model in films. How do you differentiate yourself as a heroine?

People look at just the attractive side of a woman and say she so very attractive. But it's nicer when you look, not just at the attractiveness, but also the substance. I don't take roles, where I have to just dance and run around trees. I do roles that everyone can relate to. I have done movies where I have just played a prop. But I did them because I wanted to do different kinds of roles. To be frank, I have felt like vegetable doing those roles.

Where do you find yourself in the number game?

There is no more number game in Bollywood. It's like this, you are the most amazing actor, but your film doesn't work, and you find yourself at number 10. Conversely, you are the worst actor, but your film works and you are number 1. So I don't agree with number game. I think its quite stupid.

How do you take on the competition? Do you feel scared of it?

I take competition very positively. In the absence of competition, I don't think you will work hard enough. I don't let competition affect me negatively. I don't plot, manipulate, conspire or whatever. That's stupid. I don't fall in to all that. But yes, do look around. I would say, I compete with myself more than anybody else. I am very perfectionist, and I have still not reached the desired standard. It is only after you have perfected yourself, you look out and compete with anyone else.

How much involved do you get in your role ? Do you go in for research ?

The maximum research I have ever done for any character, is in the film 'Chori-Chori Chupke-Chupke' of Abbas Mastan. But even after that I feel I might have gone wrong somewhere. In 'Mission Kashmir', I play a Kashmiri girl. For that also I did some research on Kashmiri clothes with my designer. I believe you have done two South Indian films. Yes I have done two Telugu films, on experimental basis, and both were a great hit. `Soldier' was just released when I started shooting for the first film. After six months I shot for another south Indian film. Everybody said it would be very difficult. But I though let me just have a go at it.

Are South Indian films and the environment better than Bollywood, as everybody says ?

Nothing is better than Bollywood films. I love Mumbai and I love the Hindi films. No other film industry is better than Bollywood.

What is the best and the worst of being an actress ?

The best thing is I feel like a magician sometimes. Because, I create and be part of the same. I live and believe in that magic. Somewhere inside me I feel more fulfilled. May be as a little girl I wanted to be a princess, but there can be a scene in a movie where I play a princess. And I could just live it and feel it at that moment. And that image will remain in my memory forever. I will say I did it, no matter momentarily, but I did become one. Bad aspect of being actress is people pry into my personal life. The media trying to dig out big secrets about me, intruding my private life. Besides this I have no complaints.