"I will only be myself, take me, or leave me!

I have my vulnerable moments, but I’m a strong person.

I need to be in constant touch with the realities of life.

I’m definitely not going to be acting after my marriage."

...Kyonki Dil Chahta Hai!

Preity Zinta has always called a spade a spade and paid a price for being honest. But she won’t change. Nah! ‘Cause she sets her own rules and lives by them..., sets her own standards and matches up to them..., speaks her heart out and sticks to her stand..., evaluates her priorities and abides by them, being least confused about anything. And all this is because she says — “I believe in myself.”

You meet her first when she’s shooting for her supposedly debut film Kya Kehna! and learn a lot about her characteristics, accepting Preity just the way she is. Later, you meet her after over a year to realize that not much has changed about Zinta, except for her obvious growth as an actress and an individual. ‘Cause she’s not the kinda person who lets superficial factors like her box-office success or failure affect her considerably to change her very essence.

Eventually, after much anticipation, when you meet her after a gap of over 365 days, you love chatting up with this bubbly, effervescent woman of today. ‘Cause, even after experiencing the roller-coaster journey called life..., witnessing a personal break-up with beau Marc Robinson..., unfortunately-n-unknowingly being part of a film (Chori Chori Chupke Chupke) which got enmeshed in the underworld imbroglio..., Preity is herself, living life to the fullest. “Kyonki, zindagi jeene ke liye, saari duniya mere liye...” she giggles as the dialogue starts on the sets of Harmesh Malhotra’s Khullam Khulla Pyar Kare, a backlog film that’ll eventually release by the end of August, while coincidentally, two of her other films, Yeh Raaste Hai Pyar Ke and Dil Chahta Hai are releasing on the same day — August 10.

Like many in the industry who feel insecure to work with a fine actor like Govinda for the fear of being overshadowed, what has been your stand?

Such things only bother you when you suffer from an inferiority complex. I think both Govinda and I are just doing what we’re both best at. And that is being professional, working amicably to ultimately deliver a good product. Moreover, times are changing today. I’m very glad to be born in this generation because it is definitely far more open-minded and smarter than the past ones. With a lot of multistarrer films coming up, people are much more comfortable with sharing the limelight. People who are constantly feeling insecure of getting overshadowed, eventually land up getting unnoticed in the film, because their energies get wasted in trying to put their counterparts down. I’ve realized that there is no standard method of acting. A few roles demand a bit of over-acting, while in the other few you need to be subtle because the character demands it. You cannot keep mouthing loud dialogues for all roles and expect to get prominently noticed. That’s ridiculous! You cannot crave to steal every scene, every shot, because that way, in totality the film will not work.

Are you content with the projects that you’re involved with today?

Oh, I couldn’t have had it better in terms of the variety of roles that I’m playing now. Films like Farhan Akhtar’s Dil Chahta Hai, Kundan Shah’s Dil Hai Tumhara are just the kind of films I want to be associated with.

What are your future projects?

I’ve signed Rakesh Roshan’s Koi Mil Gaya with Hrithik, an untitled film with Abbas Mustan and a film with the South maker Shanker called Robo, to be made in Hindi of course.

But you’ve done South films too...

I did two Telegu films down South, and both were blockbusters. I did them because many challenged me that I’d not be able to do a South film, look so fat, speak their language... I took it on myself to prove a point to both, myself and these detractors that I could do it. Also, I had the needed dates then. I believe that it’s better to do a good South Indian film than a bad Hindi film.

But then signing a run-of-the-mill commercial film can be a alluring proposition simply for the moolah it offers...?

I’ve signed only one film for money till date because I wanted to buy a house in Bombay then. And after that, I’ve told myself a zillion times and more, “never again will I sign an unsure project.” Oh I died everyday I’d to shoot for it. But then every actor at some or the other point of time in their career has signed stupid films for various reasons. What the heck, why brood over past mistakes, or try putting the blame on anybody else when I know only I am to be blamed.

Where do you think you went wrong with those films?

I’m an actress who insists on getting a hardbound script before the film starts shooting. And it is in these films that I wasn’t given one. Since the script varied during the making, I eventually realized that my role wasn’t shaping the way I was told it would.

But in a male chauvinistic ambience, don’t makers find it snooty or starry for the heroine of the film demanding to know her role beforehand?

I don’t think it’s starry for any heroine to ask for a bound script. At least the filmmakers with whom I’ve worked with believe in this themselves, be it Vidhu Vinod Chopra or Kundan Shah. Look, I’m the kind of actor who gives her all once she’s signed on the dotted line. But I need to know what ‘all’ comprises. It kills me to realize the energy and creativity that I’m putting in is ultimately worth nothing.

Tell us something about the much-anticipated Dil Chahta Hai.

Dil Chahta Hai is a real film, so unlike the usual commercial ones. Guess it’s for the first time that you truly get to see Indian youth just the way they are, without any candy floss, any gloss, sans that extra bit of commercialism in the script. Everything about the film is today. Ranging from the complexes the youth of today have, to the struggles that they face, to the clothes they wear, the kind of music they listen to... everything is today! It was a pleasure doing Dil Chahta Hai because the entire unit was under the age of 35. We had a blast. Most importantly, for a change, we were doing believable things.

You’re one actress who’s landed in a soup for putting her foot in her mouth. Well very often, if not always.

Many think that my straightforwardness is a sham, that it’s a put-on. But I don’t care one bit for what people think or believe. Well, I do what I have to do while people do what they have to do. In some ways my honesty has helped me, while in many others, it has worked against me. But at the end of the day, I’m content being me, take me or leave me, I’m not going to change.

Don’t you think you lose out on work when you rub people the wrong way because of your straightforward attitude?

I’m here as an actress to be a part of good ventures and am going to work with filmmakers who’re here to make good films. No other vested interests, please. After pack up, it’s bye- bye film industry. I don’t take my work home. I have many friends outside the industry and socialize most with them.

With so li’l films on hand, it must be risky in a profession which judges you by your last film. Guess its because of your conviction and guts that the industry has tagged you ‘The female Aamir Khan’.

(Laughs aloud) I don’t think I want to work with producers who want to sign me the moment a film of mine becomes a hit, and if in the process another film of mine flops, that they start to doubt my abilities as an actress. I want to work with filmmakers who believe in me and feel that I’m essential to the script. About doing very few films, I’m a person who needs to take time off to do various things that give me immense pleasure. Something like trekking, bush-walking, and the like. I need to get in touch with my real self. I need to be in touch with hardcore reality. Not only this, I’ve realized that my extra-curricular activities have helped me grow as an actress, and also as a human being of course.

Which place do you like to visit the most?

Australia. The wild forests and me, that’s it. No phone calls, no computers, no work, no filmi gossip... it’s out of the world! I don’t do anything too risky or wild because back home I cannot let down the makers who’ve invested so much money in me by injuring myself. That way I’m a thorough professional.

Talking about gossip, does it affect you still?

I’ve become very thick skinned. Nothing written or said about me affects me anymore because I’ve realized that if I let myself get taken in by all that the media states, I’ll go nuts! Earlier it really hassled me when they linked me up with Sanju (Sunjay Dutt). It became kinda odd to face each other on the sets after all those rumours. I detest being linked up with my co-stars because I’ve never shared anything intimate besides a great working relationship. I was so badly affected that I was crying from the rooftops claiming them to be all false. But now I’ve become thick-skinned. Today if someone is to link me up with some guy, I’d turn around and say — me with only one guy? There must be more to it!

With you being single today, do you think the rumour-mongers will work overtime?

Oh, I’ve developed this phobia that I’ll be linked to any guy in sight. Apparently, I’m suppose to be having a scene with Deepak Shetty, Namrata Shirodkar’s ex-boyfriend. That’s the most bizzare thing I’ve ever heard. Gosh, I haven’t seen Deepak for over three-and-a-half years now. I’ve just met him twice in my life and that too with Namrata. Some journo has reported that since the two of us are heartbroken with our respective relationships breaking up, we’re suppose to be mending our hearts together. Such utter rubbish!

Otherwise, are you happy being single today?

I love every bit being single. I do what I want, meet whom I want to, travel anywhere across the globe without having to inform anybody... basically, it’s a divine feeling — not being answerable to anybody. The moments I miss a man in life are so rare compared to the excessive emotional baggage that comes along with having a serious relationship that I’d rather not want one. At least not one in the near future. I love my space and don’t want to give it up for anything in the world.

Men usually can’t handle highly individualistic women.

To bad if my independence lands me into no relationship. Honestly, it’s really tough to get into a serious relationship in this profession because, firstly, I don’t have the time for anybody, and secondly, I don’t want to explain myself to anybody. Scandals are an occupational hazard, so that’s something that my guy will have to learn to handle. Talking about being highly individualistic, I’m definitely strong, but I am vulnerable and emotional too in many ways. To tell you honestly, if I was a man, I’d love to date a woman who’d be someone like me. I’m not an insecure person who’d breath down my lover’s neck wondering about her whereabouts. As an individual I come with the least amount of complex problems. Yaar, ek toh, most of the times men fall in love with an actress for all the wrong reasons. But being the intuitive kind, I guess I’d get to know the intentions of the guy.