Preity Zinta Fan Club

L A T E S T - I N T E R V I E W S

FilmFare June 08 Interview

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CineBlitz May 08 Interview

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T20 FORMAT GREAT FOR YOUNGSTERS, FAMILIES: Preity Zinta

What can we expect from your young team?

I am no Test cricket buff but am very excited about the Twenty20 format which is more suited for youngsters and families. We not only have some of the best young players in the game today, but ours is also a well-balanced side. Yuvraj Singh is the best Twenty20 player in the world and Brett Lee is the fastest bowler in the world. It was so exciting to watch Yuvraj hit six sixes in an over in the T20 World Cup. Our top players are regulars in their respective national teams. I expect King's XI Punjab to win the trophy.

How do you see Yuvraj as a youth icon?

He is a young and dynamic player. He is the only one to hit 6 sixes in a match in T20 and has an extremely high strike rate. As a person he is very simple and has a big heart. He is also lots of fun.

What prompted you to name your team Kings XI Punjab?

We had run a contest and we got all kinds of names. As Punjab is known for its maharajas, we got plenty of suggestions on those lines. However, we settled for King's XI. Of course, Punjab had to figure as well, since our team is from Punjab

Why did you choose Mohali over other cities?

To put it in simple terms, Mohali has the best cricket ground in the country. I am told that the pitch will suit our fast bowlers (Brett Lee, Sree Santh and Kyle Mills). The facilities are fantastic and the spectators will surely love it. Being from Shimla, I have an emotional reason as well because Himachal is a catchment area for our team.

Apart from commercial reasons, what drew you to the IPL?

I have been a sportsperson all my life. My father used to have tournaments in his name in Himachal Pradesh. I wanted to set up a sports school in Himachal. Then I heard about the BCCI opening up an avenue for private participation in the IPL and I jumped at it. It's a matter of great pride for me to be able to promote the game at the grassroots level.

Do you reckon that the spin-off from IPL and cricket will benefit other sports in the long run?

Absolutely. I am sure, it will happen eventually. We are a country of more than one billion people, but unfortunately parents do not encourage their kids to take up sports as a career because there is no money in it hence no future. India is the most happening place right now. Now is the time to change all that. I am sure soon all that our sportspersons will make their presence felt on the world stage.

Being the youngest owner of an IPL team, what's your message to young India?

Yesterday is the past, tomorrow is the future, today is a gift that's why we call it the present. Our time has come. Let's grab it.

Do you think a cocktail of cricket and Bollywood will be irresistible to the masses?

Bollywood and cricket remain the biggest draws in our country. The IPL will witness the marriage of entertainment and cricket. It will be a great fusion and the possibilities are endless. I am excited about it.

Do you think the fusion of sports and entertainment is here to stay?

Yes. It's already a part and parcel of sports worldwide. What we are about to witness in India is only the tip of the iceberg. India is shinning and sky is the limit.

Will you be the face of your team when they hit the road?

I just can't wait for the IPL to start. I am extremely passionate about our team, I believe I am the team's luck factor so I want to be there for everything.

Are you also going to perform in the shows involving your team?

My involvement with the team is total. Right now we are busy with the launch to be held next week. From designing the team jersey with Surily Goel to making of the promos with McCann Erikson I am into it up to my neck. I am used to facing the camera. Now I am getting a feel of life behind it. I am enjoying the experience.

Do you relish the prospect of Shah Rukh versus Preity in the IPL when Kolkata Knight Riders take on Kings XI Punjab?

It will not be Shah Rukh versus Preity. Shah Rukh is a very close friend and someone who has been an inspiration for me. It will be Kolkata versus Punjab or Mumbai.

If it's Kolkata versus Punjab in the final of the IPL, who will you be rooting for?

That would be the perfect final. Of course, I will be rooting for Punjab. No prizes for guessing that.

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PREITY & HER IPL TEAM

The IPL also has Shah Rukh Khan coming in. How does it feel to have him as a competitor in cricket?

I've always looked up to Shah Rukh. When I did my first film Dil Se with him, he was already a huge star. To me it's a matter of great honor to stand on the same platform as him. We're all working very hard on the IPL. Ours is the youngest team among all the IPL owners. Let's be positive about it. Initially, it's very important for the IPL team to work in totality.

Which members of the IPL have you interacted with?

You mean besides Shah Rukh? Vijay Mallya. He's a very good friend, and a really cool person to know. As for the cricketers, they're all in Australia now.

How cricket savvy have you become?

Right now, I am more IPL savvy. We are working on the format and the modalities constantly. But yes, I am trying to get as cricket savvy as possible. On Tuesday, I was watching the match at Australia. I was so pleased to see Yuvraj perform so well. He's rocking. And yeah, I'm reading the sports sections more now. Rome wasn't built in a day. And my interest in cricket will take time. We just did a trip to Mohali. The stadium there is fantastic. Mr. Bindra of the Punjab Cricket Board has been very accommodating.

Are you happy with your new work schedule?

I'm loving every minute of it. I have always had a lot of energy. Therefore, I am now using it in the right way.

Are you growing beyond cinema?

I certainly am. But my first love will always be acting. Cricket will have to take second place. When I'm in a shot nothing else matters. When I'm watching Yuvraj bat I'm fully there. But I'm in control during my shot, not Yuvraj's shot. All I can do is motivate the cricketers. I do have various sides to me. And now I'm getting a chance to explore things that are helping me grow as a human being. I am just so thankful to get these opportunities. I always wanted to make a positive impact.

Are you proud to be so active in a game that's dominated by men?

Men talk about equal opportunities for women. But when it comes to the crunch hardly anyone comes forward to let women rub shoulders with them. I just want to say, the three guys who exemplify true feminism are my IPL colleagues Ness Wadia, Karan Paul and Mohit Burman. These three men have supported me wholeheartedly and without being patronizing. They're truly the modern men of the world.

Having the love of your life by your side surely helps?

I joke with Ness and say you're the wing beneath my wings . When I suddenly burst into a loud exuberant rendering of 'Wind Beneath My Wings' Ness looks at me as if I've gone crazy.

Does Ness enjoy being called the wind beneath your wings?

He is that! To give me this kind of support and provide me with equal opportunities as his male colleagues. It's fantastic. Very few people will do that.

What do you expect the outcome of the IPL auction to be?

It's an open auction. All of us have to be on our toes. It isn't going to be easy. To be honest I've absolutely no idea what will happen. I've giant-sized butterflies in my stomach. I'm looking forward to forming our teams and going ahead full-steam. There's a lot of work ahead. I'm an eager student of cricket. Fortunately, I've so many knowledgeable people around me. I'm just happy listening.

That must be tough for someone as talkative as you?

The toughest thing for me has been to sit in one place for an hour. When I'm on a film set I'm all over the place. But at a board meeting I better be still. This is a whole new world for me. And I've plunged into it headlong.

Did you ever feel you might just end up as the glamour prop in the IPL?

I always wanted to avoid that. But in any sphere of activity people treat you the way you want. I've been on-board in the IPL full-on attending all the conferences. At every meeting I'm the first one in, the last one out. Everyone has got the message that I'm interested and passionate about the IPL. That I'm not in it just as a token representative. I'm fully inducted into it. Let's see where it goes.

Any downside to the auction?

I felt bad that we couldn't get Harbhajan Singh on board, he being from Chandigarh to have him on board would've been nice. But Mumbai went hard for him, and so did we. But…at least the good thing is, he got paid really well. A team is never made of one person. We had our budgets, and we had to stick to it. We wanted a team that was heavy with Indians. A lot of mathematics went into the game. Overall, I think we got a well-balanced team. And in the team format no individual wins or loses. That's the best part of it.

Did your budget afford you the players you wanted?

I think the teams that didn't have to bid for icon players had more flexible budgets. Chennai, Hyderabad and Jaipur didn't have icon players.

Do you think it's important for your team to have an icon player?

We love our icon player Yuvraj. He's one of the best 20-20 players in the world. He makes a helluva difference to our team's morale. The good thing is, we're the youngest team in the IPL.

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Startdust March 08 Article

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Filmfare March 08 Article

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Vision Asia February 08 Interview

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CineBlitz October 06 Interview

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Stardust August 06 Interview

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Filmfare September 06 Interview

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PREITY ZINTA HAS GOT AUDIENCES RAVING ABOUT HER PERFORMANCE IN KANK

The beautiful Preity Zinta as Rhea Saran, the fashion editor, married to Shah Rukh Khan?s Dev Saran, has got audiences raving about her performance. Excerpts from the time MovieTalkies caught up with the actress for an exclusive interview:

Tell us something about your character in the film?

I play Rhea Saran, a fashion editor of a magazine in New York. She is a power woman and is very career-oriented. It is a very sprightly character involving lots of powerful dialogues. She is a person who does not overtly display too much of her emotions but nevertheless is emotional, containing her inner feelings.

What attracted to you to the script of this film?

The script was interesting because of the difference in the subject - the way it deals with relationships. Karan has earlier also made films which are based on relationships but they were more candy floss, more fun and were easy in their set-ups. This film has got a very different feel to it in terms of complexities of marriage and relationships. And that is what attracted me to the script of this film.

What is so special about Karan that makes him the most sought after director in commercial cinema?

Karan is Karan. Hmmm, I don?t know what is special about him but everything about him is special! He is very talented, very funny, pushes you all the time to get what he wants; and he is very sure of what he wants from his actors in the film, and if ever there is a dull moment on the set he brightens it up.

Something that you don?t like about Karan

Nothing in particular really. I like everything about him. He is a wonderful person, very funny, very talented and extremely gifted. Yes, I don?t like it when he says ?One more take?, ?It?s mind-blowing?. It?s okay??but can I have one more take??

What kind of message does this film convey?

I think it is for the audience to decide the kind of message that it tries to convey. What I would say from my end is, it is about relationships and says you must marry for the right reasons. Don?t just get married for the sake of it, or because it is convenient, or because you don?t have any other option. I think marriage is a beautiful relationship of two people coming together and if you want to get married, get married for the right reasons and marry for love.

How was the shooting experience in New York?

New York is one of my favorite cities in the world. I love going there again and again and it was fun going back there especially because we had shot Kal Ho Na Ho there. But this time it was very very cold and we had a hurricane coming in and the weather was driving us nuts. But despite all this it was wonderful shooting in New York.

The most touching moment of the film

There are a couple of them. I have actually not seen the whole film but I think this is Karan?s most sensitive writing for sure. The scenes are very delicately balanced with emotions and drama so I think the whole film is great. I can?t really pin point at particular scenes and if I do I have to tell you the whole story! The whole film has its ups and downs.

Your favorite song in the film?

My favorite song shooting-wise would be Rock n Roll Soniye. It was good fun shooting for the song. We had rains for four days so we were holidaying and after that we started shooting for the song. But the music is fantastic. All the songs are beautiful depending on the preferential tastes of the viewers, like there is a ballet, then there is a song called ?Where?s the party tonight?? which is a big item song, but my all-time favorite song would be the title song of the film.

This is perhaps the greatest cast of Indian cinema put together in the film. Tell us something about your co-stars?

Well, Amitji, Shah Rukh and I, we have worked together in the past. Shah Rukh and I have done a couple of films together and so is the case with Rani. So it?s great working with all of them. Abhishek was the only one with whom I worked for the first time and it was a wonderful experience.

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Filmfare August 06 Interview

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I could not sleep all night...

The day after Mumbai rocked to serial blasts, Preity Zinta can't get over the suddenness of it all.

7/11 will go down as one of the darkest days in Mumbai, she says. I was in court for the second hearing of my case against a tabloid, so I had no clue what was happening. Even when I was caught in a traffic jam, I didn't suspect trouble. There were ambulances on the road. Also, my phone was jammed. Since no one could call me, I had no idea about the blasts. It was only when I returned home and switched on the television, that I realised what had happened. I couldn't sleep all night after seeing the blast images last night. It's time we did something drastic, like New York did after 9/11, adds Preity. NY has lost its rough edges now. Earlier you couldn't walk freely in certain parts of the city. But the streets are safer now Mumbai shouldn't be such an easy target. It's so sad to see Mumbai's people hit so badly. Visuals of severed limbs will remain with me forever. You feel so helpless. We seriously need to think of the city's security. Instead of dealing with real problems the government shuts down discs and pubs after such a tragedy. How does that help anything?

You need to clamp down on the root causes of such happenings. I can't imagine terrorists sitting in pubs after committing the crime! Preity feels, like many others, that Mumbai is getting used to such periodic attacks. There should be special time-conserving courts for terrorist cases, she says.

Meanwhile both her delayed films Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (KANK) and Jaan-E-Man have been finally wrapped up, within a day of each other. Both my films got delayed together. Both continued shooting, almost together. Both ended with me shooting for a part of a song. My dates did clash. But I sorted them out. KANK will release in August and Jaane-e-Man later, she says.Preity has just shot a song for KANK. The film is complete, she says. We just finished shooting a song. I danced with Amitji and Abhishek. They're both so tall! I had to really crane my neck to keep up with them. This was my first song with both of them.

She is wistful about not being part of the Salaam Namaste team a second time around. Their film is called Tara Rum Pam Pam. That was meant to be the title of my first film. Siddharth Anand has Rani this time. That's okay. I'm doing Shaad's film Jhoom Baraabar Jhoom with Abhishek. Rani was in Shaad's last film. After the premiere of Alvidaa, Preity leaves for London to shoot for Jhoom Baraabar Jhoom.

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Movie Mag July 06 Interview

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Filmfare July 06 Interview

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Marie Claire June 06

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I PLAY A COLD WOMAN IN KABHI ALVIDA....

The effervescent Preity Zinta is set to surprise fans with her cold woman act in Karan Johar?s ?Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna? (KANK). ?I never like myself on screen. But I must say KANK has changed my look and my personality completely. I play this cold woman, which wasn?t easy for a warm person like me to do. I have just a few expressions to give away. And I think I have done them well,? Preity told IANS in an interview. She seems seriously possessed by Johar?s passion. ?I saw bits of the film recently at Karan?s urging. What a film Karan has made! KANK is unlike anything we have seen before and certainly unlike anything I have done.
?Everyone is beyond outstanding. Mr. Bachchan (Amitabh) and Shah Rukh (Khan) need no endorsement from poor me. Rani (Mukerji) is a rock star. But Abhishek (Bachchan) is going to shock you. His expressions, his interpretation of his character have to be seen to be believed. I truly believe Abhishek is the star of tomorrow.? Preity is now fed up of outdoor shoots and wants to spend some quality time at home. ?Please find me a producer who makes a complete film in India. I am shooting abroad all the time!?

She was recently in Bangkok shooting a shampoo advertisement. Before that she completed a world tour with one of her favourite co-stars, Saif Ali Khan. She then rushed to Mumbai and after that flew to Cannes with buddy Johar. ?I was excited about Cannes because I was with one of my most entertaining friends who by the way knows French better than the French, so I didn?t fear misinterpretation. ?I caught ?The Da Vinci Code? there. But Karan and I were looking mainly at projecting our film ?Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna?.?

Once again she is going abroad to shoot Shaad Ali?s ?Jhoom Baraabar Jhoom? with Abhishek. ?Again to be shot abroad. Groan groan,? she mock-protests. ?We start the film in August and wrap it up by October. I guess it?d be released early next year. So I have three releases KANK, Shirish Kunder?s ?Jaan-e-Man? and then ?Jhoom Baraabar Jhoom? in the next six months. ?Wow! And to think that I had only one release - ?Salaam Namaste? - since ?Veer-Zaara?. That?s because I completely withdrew, stopped signing films and began to look at my life in a different way after the tsunami.

?Not many people know this. But I nearly lost my life in the tsunami. Some of my close friends lost their lives. For almost eight months, I stopped working. Hence the long gap between ?Veer-Zaara? and ?Salaam Namaste?.
Her brush with death forced her to re-evaluate her priorities. ?Tsunami made me question my own life and priorities. I decided if I can?t be happy now I can never be happy. Not that I was ever unhappy. But the tsunami made me value what I have. I wrote down all the things that I had in life to be grateful about. And it was quite a long list! ?Today I have a rocking career, my mom is rocking too and my personal life couldn?t get any better, touch wood. I can shop till I drop and I can visit any part of the world to work or to holiday.

?Earlier there would be a problem with Kareena (Kapoor) or whoever. I find all that totally unnecessary now. Now I like all my co-stars.? She lights up at the thought of working with Bobby Deol and Abhishek in ?Jhoom Baraabar Jhoom?. ?That one is going to be an Aquarian special. All three of us are Aquarians. So it will be like three like-minded actors working together on a fun project. ?And what fun to work with two of my favourite co-stars. Though Bobby and I have done only one film, ?Soldier?, together, we are truly fond of each other. He calls me Pritam Singh. As for Abhishek, he is one of the most cultured and funniest persons I have met. So yeah, we are going to have a ball.?

More joy?Preity attended the Paris premiere of ?Veer-Zaara? in the first week of May. ?I flew down to Paris from my concert in Dallas for just one day to be there. And thank god! I was there with Shah Rukh Khan, Rani and Yash (Chopra) uncle. Over 15,000 people watched the film in Paris, and we aren?t talking about Indians and Asians. There were the French and other foreigners. And the way they responded to ?Veer-Zaara?, it just made me think? ?Hindi cinema is becoming really hot in Europe. Two years since its release, and suddenly I was reminded in Paris of how important ?Veer-Zaara? is. Amazing!?

She feels Johar?s ?Kabha Alvida Naa Kehna? and Kunder?s ?Jaan-e-Man? will take her career further. ?What?s really exciting is that I get to play totally antithetical characters in these two films. So, this year my two releases are going to show what I can do as an actor.? Preity has never felt better. ?The spoilsports can say whatever they want about my life and career. I couldn?t have hoped for more. After ?Jhoom Baraabar?? I am looking at three other scripts. I?ll choose one of them.?

As for marriage??that topic isn?t on my mind. Every time I am asked about my marriage I ask the journalist, why such a stale question. The way the media is interested in my marriage they should get together to fund my wedding.?

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Filmfare June 06