So how's life treating you, otherwise?

Just great. Dil Hai Tumhara is about to release and I'm all excited. A release is like having a baby on screen. The labour pains, stress and the excitement you go through is the same. The movie is over and now I have my fingers crossed. It was a whole new expeirence doing the movie. It's one hell of a story. As an actor I'm looking forward to the movie. What's so different about Dil Hai Tumhara? For one, I look different. My hair is done differently, so is my face. I'm not at all like the beautiful Shalini of Dil Chahta Hai. I play a rebel who craves attention and goes crazy if she doesn't get it. She's always trying to prove a point to others. And somewhere life catches up with her. It's an interesting character. Look what I've done. I've chopped my hair real short. I believe that every character I play must have a new look. If I look the same then even if I create a different body language, it won't work. Besides, Kundan Shah is the first director I interacted and worked with in the industry. (Chuckles) He's the only director who can scream at me and get away with it. He's family to me.

Dil Chahta Hai slalomed you to the big league.

No one movie catapults you to the top. You have to do good work consistently. A whole load of movies have taken me up. If DCH had been my first movie, I wouldn't be at the top. The credit goes equally to Kya Kehna, Soldier, Chori Chori Chupke Chupke and Dil Chahta Hai. If I have to pick one movie that put the spotlight on me, it would be Kya Kehna. The response to Kya Kehna was something else. Dil Chahta Hai was a turning point in my career, no doubt. It was appreciated a lot in the western media. Because it gave an insight into the pysche of the urban Indain youth. By the way, I won Walt Disney Childrens' Award for the Best Actress in DCH. In terms of fan-following, it was Chori Chori Chupke Chupke that put me on the map.

Really?

Yes. My fan following among the males increased three- folds after CCCC. Especially in countries like Pakistan and the Gulf. I was flooded with letters. (Grins) Some would send wedding proposals. Some ask for advice. Others call me didi. Somehow, they are able to relate to me. I really feel nice and warm when I read the letters.

So does success sit lightly on your shoulders?

Vidhu Vinod Chopra once told me something very relevant. He said that a good day will come to an end just like a bad day will. It's very important to understand that. See, Preity Zinta is an image to the audience. And that image has been created by hundreds of technicians which include my make-up guy, hair dresser, scriptwriter, director, my co-stars who compliment me on the screen. That's showbiz. It's important that I understand that. I'm not that image. Once you're clear about that, you'll automatically learn to take it easy. It's easier said than done.

How do you maintin your sanity amidst such shosha?

By taking a month off every year. Sundays are also a compulsory off. I just stay away as much as possible from the film crowd. I have a set of friends far removed from the industry. Plus, I live each day as it comes.

Is it true that you've drastically cut down on your assignments?

Not drastically but significantly. Though I must say that even earlier on I didn't sign movies indiscriminately. Right now, I'm doing Anil Sharma's The Hero, Honey Irani's next and Rakesh Roshan's Koi Mil Gaya. Only three movies a year from now on. Even that's a lot. There's so much to life beyond the movies. I don't want life to pass me by. You won't believe but I've refused so much work just to manage my holidays. I start going nuts if I don't go off somewhere. I come back a better human being. All fresh and raring to go.

How come you're doing a movie like The Hero?

Simple. I liked the role they offered me very much. I've had quite a few sittings with Anil Sharma. He told me, "Preity, your sensibilities are different from mine. I'm getting an insight into your kind of audience through you." I'm also learning a lot from him. He gave me a bound script for the high-tech espionage movie. It's a first for me.

What do you see when you see yourself on screen?

I see myself going right sometimes, going wrong at times. A bad posture, occasionally. There are times when I see myself improving as an actress. Then I see certain things that I've tried out working alright and certain things going horribly wrong. And when that happens, I just cross my fingers and hope that no one else will notice.

Do you regret not doing Lagaan?

No. If I had done Lagaan, I wouldn't have been able to do Dil Chahta Hai. Anyway, if I had done the movie, I would have reminded the audience of Preity Zinta. Lagaan needed a Gracy Singh. She was brilliant in the film.

You're perceived as a bindaas girl by the industrywallahs. Has that ever affected you professionally?

Not that I'm aware of. See, I'm focused about my work. I finish what I have to and run. I have a set of friends I socialise with. My only friends in the industry are Bobby and Tania Deol, Hrithik and Sussanne. In fact, I got to know Hrithik through Sussanne. She's one of my closest friends.

How does Sussanne take in all those rumours about Hrithik and Kareena?

See, Sussanne is a very intelligent girl. Besides being a star wife, she has an identity of her own. She's extremely graceful and feminine. We are like two sides of a coin. People say she's lucky to have Hrithik Roshan but I would say that Hrithik is lucky to have her. People can say what they like about Hrithik Roshan. It doesn't affect her. She's grown up in the industry. Sure, it's irritating to read all the rubbish that's written. But I haven't seen her shaky or worried. She knows Hrithik to the core. Recently, we went to Bangalore to celebrate her birthday. We forgot our identities and just had fun.

Know alls even whisper about Aamir Khan and you.

Really? Now that's a new one. Well, that's what I call an occupational hazard. What else can I say? Even while doing Dil Chahta Hai, it was my cousin who hung out with Aamir. Beats me how did I got linked with Aamir.

Would you say you've had a good run upto now?

Yeah. I have no reason to complain. If there ever has been a problem then I willingly admit that I'm partly to be blamed. The only thing that I'll hold against the media is for linking Sanjay Dutt and me. How could they? That was complete rubbish. I was livid when I heard that. See, I don't lead a double life. I'm open about everything. I don't think I deserved this. I'll never forgive whoever started this nonsense. I used to adore Sanjay as a child. To even think of him and me is ridiculous.