Interviews

Back

Tuesday September 26, 11:14 PM


London: Preity Zinta is riding high on the success of Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna and now she is all set for the release of Jaan-e-Mann. CNN-IBN correspondent Akanksha Banerjee caught up with the actor in London.

Akanksha Banerjee: You are in London to launch and promote your film Jaan-e-Mann. What is so different about this film that you have not done earlier?

Preity Zinta: In the past I have played a crazy girl, an unwed mother, a prostitute, a women who has divorced her husband, a journalist and so on. If you look at it, I have played almost every kind of character.

But the character that I play in Jaan-e-Mann is different than what I have done earlier.

Firstly, it is very simple. Secondly, it goes through a certain transformation graph.

It starts with this crazy and bubbly girl who transforms into a serious woman. Then there is little dreamier and dramatic bit that the film goes through.

I think what is different is that it is a simple story which is beautifully told. I think that is where the film wins.

Akanksha Banerjee:: After shedding tears in Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna are you looking forward to lots of smiles and laughter?

Preity Zinta: After KANK I’m glad that Jaan-e-Mann will bring smiles on my face. While shooting for KANK I had started walking without moving even when I used to be off the sets.

Karan was acting like this ‘pause police’ and ‘expression police’ while directing KANK. I used to call him that because he hated pauses.

He would hate it if I moved my eyebrows, shoulder or head.

Shooting for Jaan-e-Mann was a great relief. It was easy, happy and much more simple. When you see the film, you will know what I’m talking about. Though, I am not trying to give away the script of the film right now.

Akanksha Banerjee:: What was it like working with Shirish (Kunder), Sajid (Nadiadwala), Salman (Khan) and Akshay (Kumar)? You have worked with most of them earlier.

Preity Zinta: I think it is the most important thing to know the people you are working with. I have worked with Sajid and Salman earlier in Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega.

He is a wonderful producer and I absolutely love him. He is an Aquarian just like me. We share the same sun sign and similar characteristics.

In fact, we are quite similar in a lot of ways. He of course is the calmer one amongst the two of us.

As far as Salman is concerned, I have worked with him in Chori Chori Chupke Chupke and Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega.

We have always done hit films together. I would be working with Akshay after a long time. My last film with him was Sangharsh.

The vibe that we all shared on the sets was absolutely fantastic. The only new person on the set was the director. But most of my career I have worked with new directors.

And I feel that it’s always good to work withy new directors. A new director wants to put everything in his film. Right from the stars to the moon, to Saturn to Pluto, he wants it all.

However, Shirish has been a shy fellow. I remember he would pull down his face every time there was something that he felt was not going his way. But we all tried to keep him cheered up all the time.

Akanksha Banerjee:: Coming to the music, most of your films have always had great hits and one or two dance numbers in some of them. So, what are your favourite picks from Jaan-e-Mann ?

Preity Zinta: Jaan-e-Mann as I say has the entire spectrum from one-to-10 where music is concerned. The title track of Jaan-e-Mann is beautiful. It has this melody that reminds me of the 70’s and 60’s.

The way they have sung this song is very old-world and beautiful. But if you look at the way it is choreographed, it is a complete contrast to the kind of music it has. It’s a story-telling song and has been made really well. The Rock Concert is a crazy rock song.

I don’t think anybody should attempt to shoot a rock concert again. Because there is nothing filmy about the way it has been picturised. It looks very much how a rock concert would look like in real life.

The song Qabool Karle is also wonderful. Jane Ke Jane Na is a totally crazy song. So, it has all the shades and all the moods of music.

Whatever can possibly be put in a film, it has it all. It has the fun, the vibe, the melody and just about everything.

Akanksha Banerjee: If you just look back at your career, both Kya Kehna which was your first film and Dil Se which was your first released film, did extremely well at the box office.

So, would you say that success came a bit too early in your case? Doesn’t that build up the pressure and people’s expectations all the more?

Preity Zinta: I think success might have come early to me, I won’t deny that. But it certainly didn’t come easy to me. And it never is easy. I think when it comes earlier to you it raises the barb very fast, that’s the only problem.

There are times when you don’t do well, people don’t expect and then suddenly you do great. In my case Dil Se and Soldier were massive blockbusters. But Sangharsh and Kya Kehna did not do all that well.

I was always commented upon. But I think it’s good if you raise the barb for yourself and for others. At times I have felt that I just want to do certain kind of films.

I want to do films that I am happy doing. I hate dark films. Even if I have to go into a dark tunnel, I would like to see light at its fag end. I don’t like tunnels with no light, that’s me. If I get one or two films, which are too dark, I feel this is not me.

I hate doing dark films or even watching them. I won’t go about being artistic and loving a serene kind of film. I remember when I did KANK, I felt it was way too intense for a person like me. I just could not take it.

I am confident and successful and I play a character that’s very successful and beautiful. And yet, her husband leaves her. In a situation like this, what is it that you can do? You just can’t stop thinking about it.

Akanksha Banerjee: Are you self critical? Most actors look back at their work and constantly judge. Many a times you wish it could have been done differently. Are you also like that?

Preity Zinta: I think all actors are like that. You can never really be objective about yourself. You cannot really get out of yourself and see in an objective light. It’s always a subjective opinion.

Of course there is no scene ever that you see and feel that you have done it great. You always feel that you could have done it better.

Akanksha Banerjee:: Is there any particular role that you still dream of doing at this stage in your career?

Preity Zinta: Not really. I have always wanted to have the freedom to do one or two films and then have some time off to myself to do my own thing. Fortunately, I am working with great production houses, and getting to work with the actors that I absolutely adore. So, I have no reason to complain.

Akanksha Banerjee:: You have been shooting for your next film in London. Do you have any special memories or experiences that you have always cherished about this city?

Preity Zinta: I have been shooting for Jhoom Barabar Jhoom in London. And it’s been very difficult. It was for the first time that we were shooting in London. And I never ever realised that people would gather to see us, like it happens in India. But it’s been great.

We have been all through the rainy month of August and I was lucky to have gotten away with rain most of the time. London is beautiful.

Presently we are all trying to pick up the ‘Brit’ accent and getting very Brit about it. It’s nice to here words like dodgy and bloke. So, it feels great.

The British crew working with us is wonderful. It’s my first experience of working in UK. Nobody wants to work more than 10 hours here. It’s great!

Akanksha Banerjee:: Thank you so much for sharing all your experiences with us.

Preity Zinta: Thank you too.