Preity Zinta Fan Club

Preity reveals a bit about Unforgettable

2008-07-16T15:07:00.000-07:00

On July 18, 2008 the highly anticipated Unforgettable Tour will make its debut in Toronto, Canada. The show will take many of our favorite Bollywood stars all over the globe. One place in particular will be in UK at The O2 arena. It has played host to performers such as Justin Timberlake, Madonna, Kylie Minogue, and the Rolling Stones. Now it will be playing host to the stars of the Unforgettable Tour. One star in particular is Preity Zinta.

Although their performance for the UK isn’t until Sunday August 24, 2008, Preity is busy rehearsing in Mumbai nonetheless. We can somewhat predict the kind of songs that might be performed judging by the list of stars, but details about the show are not being revealed to the public. Surely, we are anticipating the wonderful surprises the stars have in store for us. Preity did not reveal too much about the tour but did comment on the fact that the Unforgettable Tour features something different than any other tour out there. “The fact that there is a completely new star cast who have never been on the world concert before, that’s one of the USP’s,” she said. The star power isn’t the only thing that sets the tour apart from others. The locations that the tour is set to perform in also have something different in store for us.

Hindi cinema fans in at least two continents will have the chance to see some of their favorite stars. According to Preity, “Different people from different countries are going to get a different taste of the Unforgettable Tour. Canada will have Akshay Kumar as a guest performer. Madhuri Dixit is going to tour America with us and Shilpa Shetty as we all know is a UK favourite. Plus the choreography is done by Shiamak Davar who will also be performing. He is of par excellence in choreography. There are lot more surprises installed.” But inquiring minds really want to know some sort of inside detail. “You’ll just have to wait and watch,” she siad.

It is also assumed that the lovely pairing of Abhishek and Preity will perform the famous numbers from their film Jhoom Barabar Jhoom. Which ones? Possibly the title track and ‘Bol Na Halke Halke.’ “I am sorry but we are not allowed to disclose out on which numbers we are going to perform and if your guess is as good as mine, you’re lucky. Yes, you can predict the songs seeing my pairing with Abhishek. But that’s it. There’s a lot more to look out for,” she responded.

A thing to take note of is the official promotional picture in which we see all the stars wearing red in some form or fashion. Well, the stylish outfits were designed by Manish Maholtra and some other top notch designers. “Lot of preparation is going on for the tour as of now. We are all very excited and are rehearsing for three to four hours a day. New things are coming up everyday and so is the entry of guest stars.” Hmm, what else can be going on? One can’t help but think that along with the expected surprises will be more surprises. “I think whatever you get is going to be more than what you expect. I can promise you that.” Wow, a star that is willing to stand by her word and deliver a promise. “There is going to be a lot of everything in this show. I don’t want to talk much about it because it’s better you all watch it live.”

Along with the talented stars, it appears we must not forget the company that is bringing the tour to us. “This is going to be the biggest world tour coming out of the Indian Film Industry and all credit goes to Wizcraft in the way they’ve put the show up. Not to forget, we too have done our part to push it to another level (laughs).” If by another level means not revealing any secrets and getting an all-star cast together on one stage, then we would agree.

Preity Zinta gets awarded

2008-07-16T15:03:00.000-07:00

Bollywood actor Preity Zinta will be conferred with the Smita Patil Memorial Award 2008 for her "outstanding" contribution to the Hindi film industry.

"Priety's name has been announced for the award," said sources close to the actor. "The award will be presented sometime in September," the sources added.

The biennial award is given by an NGO Priyadarshini Academy engaged in socio-cultural and educational activities.

Priyadarshini Academy has been holding the biennial award function since its inception in 1984.

In the past, distinguished celebrities like Yash chopra, Karishma Kapoor, Urmila Matondkar, Aishwarya Rai, Madhuri Dixit have been bestowed with this ward. Kareena Kapoor was the recipient of the award in 2006.

Preity Zinta Geared Up For Deepa Mehta’s ‘Heaven On Earth’

2008-07-05T12:05:00.000-07:00

After the hectic IPL, the hot and sizzling Bollywood beauty Preity Zinta is Preity Zinta now back to work and shooting for Deepa Mehta’s upcoming flick ‘Heaven On Earth,’ which is based on domestic violence.

Deepa said that she has been inspired by countless sources for the film that has Preity playing the female lead.

Preity plays the female lead in the movie, but amazingly, the film’s hero is not a stud, he is not handsome, and he doesn’t even show off the much-demanded ‘six pack abs.’

The acclaimed filmmaker Deepa has cast a ‘snake’ opposite Preity, as the hero of the film.

In ‘Heaven on Earth’, Preity plays the role of an innocent girl ‘Chand’, who is harassed by her in- laws after she marries a Canadian NRI, ‘Rocky’.

And guess what happens?

It’s the snake that lives in their backyard, comes to her rescue, and gets the ‘sinless’ lady saved from her rude in-laws as well as husband’

A source near to the film said, “Initially, when Preity read the script, she was very excited about her character, but when the shoot began, it became hard for the actress to get deep into the skin of the character.”

Preity, however, managed to remain very quiet and courageous, and the actress is indeed trying to give it her best shot, as always.

Mehta had the film's first preview recently in Toronto and was happy with the audience reaction.

"There was pin-drop silence after the film. Though I've kept the violence largely out of camera range, it's a very disturbing film. And a lot of people who know Preity Zinta's work couldn't recognize her!"

I'll always be there for Shekhar Kapur: Preity Zinta

2008-07-05T12:03:00.000-07:00

Controversies aside, actress-cum-business woman Preity Zinta says she has the deepest respect for internationally acclaimed director Shekhar Kapur and that she will be always there for him.

"Shekhar is very special to me because he is the one who brought me into this industry. Though that film did not take off, I will always be grateful to him. I have great respect for him and I will always be there for him," Preity said in an interview.

Kapur, whose ex-wife Suchitra Krishnamurthy blamed Preity for her divorce, had signed the actress for Ta Ra Rum Pum that was to be directed by Vishal Bharadwaj.

"But the film never took off due to some problems. We sat for a few meetings and worked on the scripts, but things did not fall in place so we just let it go," Preity said.

Is she doing any film with him now? "No, he did not approach me again."

What are the films that Preity is working on now?

"I have a lot of films which I have completed shooting for."

Preity said she has completed Jahnu Barua's Har Pal, Rituparno Ghosh's English film The Last Lear, Samir Karnik's Heroes and Deepa Mehta's Punjabi film Heaven On Earth.

Out of these, Preity considers Heaven On Earth as the most intense film of her career.

"It is the best film I have ever done. If I am 80-years-old and if someone asks me which film do you want to show people, I would say Heaven On Earth.

"Though Har Pal and Heroes are also very close to my heart, I think Heaven On Earth was altogether a different journey for me."

The film has a host of award-winning actors from stage and is expected to hit the marquee later this year.

As far as Har Pal is concerned, Preity said she had a great time working with legendary actor Dharmendra.

"It was a lifetime experience of working with Dharamji and I had a blast with my co-star Isha Koppikar. The script is 200 per cent original. Every one would think that Har Pal is a serious movie, but let me tell you that it is a hilarious film with the right emotions."

What about your relations with Har Pal co-star Shiney Ahuja?

"Relations are fine with him, but we are not best friends. He is a good co-star."

The actress, who has featured in commercially successful films like Dil Chahta Hai, Koi... Mil Gaya and Kal Ho Naa Ho, thanks Bengali director Rituparno Ghosh for introducing her to meaningful cinema.

"He opened the doors to working in meaningful films. I want that when I look back after 10 or 20 years, I don't have only 'masala' films to my credit. I want to see myself as part of meaningful films as well. It is because of him that I got Heaven On Earth and I want to thank him for that."

In The Last Lear, Preity teams up with Amitabh Bachchan, Arjun Rampal, Divya Dutta and Shefali Shah.

About Heroes, Preity said it is a multi-starrer—a new genre of film with separate stories that have a common connection.

Besides Preity, it also stars Salman Khan, Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, Mithun Chakraborty, Sohail Khan, Dino Morea, Vatsal Sheth, Amrita Arora and Riya Sen.

Weight race between Kareena Kapoor and Preity Zinta

2008-07-05T12:02:00.001-07:00

With Size zero becoming such a burning issue in Bollywood among the actresses, the latest is Preity Zinta trying to shed kilos The immediate context is the shooting of the movie Mr. and Mrs. Khanna in which Kareena is paired opposite Salman Khan and also stars Priety Zinta in a cameo.

But what got Priety rankling was Kareena’s size zero figure. So Preity has started working out in a gym.

Directed by debutante Prem Soni, the film, which revolves around the theme of extramarital affair, is expected to release near the end of 2008. Sources inform us that SRK has also agreed to do a cameo for the film due to his friendship with Salman.

The race for size zero has certainly caught up in the industry with heroines vying among themselves to be stick thin.to match rival Kareena Kapoor.

I am not neglecting films : Preity Zinta

2008-06-27T01:38:00.000-07:00

Bollywood actress Preity Zinta said her preoccupation with Indian Premier League (IPL) earlier and now the 'Unforgettables' world concert did not mean that she has put her film career on the backburner.
"I have four back-to-back releases this year starting with Jahanu Barua's 'Har Pal' with Dharmendra and Shiney Ahuja, 'Heroes' with Salman Khan, Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, 'The Last Lear' with Amitabh Bachchan, Arjun Rampal and Shefali Shah and Deepa Mehta's 'Heaven on Earth'," Zinta said.

The actress said she was presently dubbing for 'Har Pal' and shooting for 'Main aur Mrs Khanna'.

However, she declined to divulge any details of the films.

She said her forthcoming releases are a natural progression for her from a mainstream commercial film actor to doing meaty roles with substance.

'Har Pal' has the original screenplay and is an out-to-out commercial film which is high on emotions. 'The Last Lear' will see her playing an upcoming actress while in 'Heaven on Earth' she plays a battered housewife.

She said she had reached a stagnation point with the films she was doing.

"I was going through the same grind and naturally wanted some challenging work. When you grow older, you need more substance. I am fortunate that when I yearned for a change, it came from all sides," she added.

"The NRI bracket associated with my films because all of them were shot abroad, was killing me. Hence, I decided to go desi in my forthcoming films," she added.

Preity pointed out that she never had a glamorous image in films.

Preity bonds with Jinnahs daughter

2008-06-27T01:36:00.000-07:00

Preity Zinta talks about her impressions of boyfriend Ness Wadias illustrious grandmother, Dina Wadia.

Jinnahs daughter Dina Wadia has been in Mumbai for a while now. Among the lucky few people who can get to meet her is actress Preity Zinta, Dina Wadia being her beau Ness Wadias grandmother.

Preity says that every time she Dina Wadia, she comes away floored. Says Preity, “The first time I met Dina Wadia I stared at her open-mouthed. My goodness! She carries so much history within her.

Since then weve met over dinner and other social occasions several times. Each time Im struck by her gentle demeanour, her classic elegance, and yes, her fragility.”

While speaking about one of her favourite women, Preitys voice lights up. She continues, “Shes so beautiful, so fragile. I was also struck by her unmistakable facial resemblance to her distinguished father (Jinnah).

They look like father and daughter all right! Ive never seen two people who resemble one another so closely.”

Preity says she has met Dina Wadia both in Mumbai and abroad. “She lives in New York. But she visits Mumbai where she has close family. She carries an aura of unmistakable strength.

Every time I meet her theres so much to imbibe from her. You know therere some people in this world who just carry an aura about them. Shes one of them.”

The last time when they met Dina Wadia wanted to know about Preitys IPL matches. “She has so much to tell. And I just want to sit and keep on listening to her.

She takes a lot of interest in my life. The last time we met she wanted to know all about the IPL matches.

I was surprised, why would someone of her stature want to know what Im doing? Shes so important to our times as a woman and a figure in history and yet conveys so much joie de vivre in her attitude.” www.Aaj.tv, 2008

Have Preity Zinta-Ness Wadia split?

2008-06-27T01:35:00.000-07:00

Hot rumours doing the rounds is the split between actress Preity Zinta and her industrialist boyfriend Ness Wadia. The grapevine is buzzing that industry's rocking couple has come to an end with their relationship.

Neither of the two has confirmed their split officially. But it's quite a long time that Preity and Ness have made any public appearances together.

However, to put rumours to rest is a close friend of Preity who confirms that there's nothing such to believe this hearsay and the talks about their break-up is baseless.

Preity Zinta talks about 'The Unforgettable Tour'

2008-06-27T01:32:00.000-07:00

We all know the hype surrounding the Bachchan's is as always colossal. And if you thought that after their bare footed walk to the Siddhivinayak, their IIFA Bangkok premiere of Sarkar Raj and their grand Yatra Tour across India, the Bachchans would need that desperate break....think again! Because this time around, they are not alone. Bollywood finds out the hype and the excitement surrounding the Unforgettable Tour in London and has a quick five minute chat with dimpled beauty Preity Zinta who is a part of this world wide extravaganza.

The O2 Arena is like a place from another planet when you first see it! This is a huge entertainment district which includes an indoor arena, a music club, cinema, exhibition space, bars and restaurants. All inside the former huge dome-shaped Millenium Dome, O2 Arena, popularly known as the 'Dome's Canopy' was designed for all kinds of different events and one such event is going to take place in this arena on August 24 when the 'Unforgettable Tour' unleashes its magic for all the Bollywood lovers in and around the U.K. Britain is the heart and soul of live music and what better world class facility is Bollywood going to get than to perform in Europe's finest music venue. The £758m Dome was built as a Millennium project and opened in 2000 and has witnessed some of music industries finest talents from across the globe like Bon Jovi, Elton John, Take That, Justin Timberlake, Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Rolling Stones, etc. The names keep on rolling... what will make the world of difference when it comes to concerts at the O2 is 'The Unforgettable Tour 2008' which boasts of a star studded line up including the dancing diva of Bollywood, Madhuri Dixit, the sweet and chirpy Preity Zinta, the lovable Riteish Deshmukh, the musical duo Vishal & Shekhar, the ultra slim & sexy Shilpa Shetty, the new Kinng of Bollywood Akshay Kumar and for the first time on an international concert together comes the power of three - The Bachchan Trio, Amitabh, Abhishek and Aishwarya. Phew! Can't get bigger than this!

With perfect sight-lines from every angle, crystal clear acoustics, obscenely comfy seating, wide concourses between aisles and a huge variety of snack and drink options to enjoy throughout the show, the O2 Arena is also fitted with - believe it or not - 548 toilets to avoid the excruciatingly painful and frustrating half an hour queue for the loo. Now that's a.....relief!!! From London, let's now move to Mumbai where all our Bollywood stars are busy rehearsing for their grand tour which flags off on July 18 in Toronto and ends in London on August 24. As you can already see the line up, it will not be surprising to see all your favourite celebs performing dance numbers to the tunes of Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, Dhoom and Dhoom 2, Bluffmaster, Guru and not to forget, the 'Kajra Re' track with all the three Bachchans. Though it will be exciting to see the Big B perform on some of his evergreen songs from his 1980's films. I can start feeling the excitement of the crazy and the ever so loyal Bollywood fans.

Whether it is the famous Wembley Arena or the O2 Arena, one thing is certain, it will only take seconds to fill it up. And while most of you must be impatiently waiting to see your favourite stars in action, here's something for you to cherish about in the mean time. Last weekend, I caught up with actress Preity Zinta who gave away very little in terms of what's going to be their game plan for 'The Unforgettable Tour'. Though she did mention what made this particular tour better than the rest of the world wide tours she has been a part of. "The fact that there is a completely new star cast who have never been on the world concert before, that's one of the USP's. Different people from different countries are going to get a different taste of 'The Unforgettable Tour'. Canada will have Akshay Kumar as a guest performer, Madhuri Dixit is going to tour America with us and Shilpa Shetty as we all know is a U.K favourite. Plus all the choreography is done by Shiamak Davar who will also be performing. He is of par excellence in choreography. There are lot more surprises installed. You'll just have to wait and watch", revealed the zealous Zinta.

Preity will also be performing with Abhishek Bachchan on the title track of 'Jhoom Barabar Jhoom' and a romantic number from the same film which goes 'Bol Na Halke Halke'. So on asking her whether I got the tracks right, she laughs and replies, "I am sorry but we are not allowed to disclose out on which numbers we are going to perform and if your guess is as good as mine, you're lucky. Yes, you can predict the songs seeing my pairing with Abhishek. But that's it. There's lot more to look out for". Looking at the home page of 'The Unforgettable Tour' website, the thing which catches your eye are the exclusive red coloured outfits which the stars have put on, symbolising glitz and glamour. So who have designed these outfits? "Well, many of the outfits are designed by Manish Malhotra and there are other designers too on board." With only three weeks to go before this mega tour kicks off, Zinta sounds elated. "Lot of preparation is going on for the tour as of now. We all are very excited and are rehearsing for three to four hours a day. New things are coming up everyday and so is the entry of guest stars", revealed Preity.

The versatile actress has in the past been a part of a world tour couple of years ago called the 'Temptations Tour' with Shah Rukh Khan. Be it on the cricket field, big screen or on the stage, this dimpled beauty has impressed on and all, but I still have my sixth sense telling me that the Unforgettable Tour is hiding something quite dark in it's promotions and will pull the rabbit out of the hat only at the right time. What you are seeing is not what you may get. "I think whatever you get is going to be more than what you expect. I can promise you that. There is going to be a lot of everything in this show. I don't want to talk much about it because it's better you all watch it live", said the talented actress. She further adds, "This is going to be the biggest world tour coming out of the Indian Film Industry and all credit goes to Wizcraft in the way they've put the show up. Not to forget, we too have done our part to push it to another level (laughs).”

'The Unforgettable Tour' also has it's coincidences. The first world tour in which Preity Zinta was a part of had Aishwarya Rai. And this one reunites them. "I have seen all the three Bachchans perform before and I see them all the time as they are my friends but what's good is that the fans haven't seen them together on stage and it's going to be a one off experience for them", Preity told me. Having done about three hundred interviews on the weekend before she spoke to me, Zinta sounded a bit jaded and tired. So before she calls it a day, I fired a couple of last questions to her. I asked her to explain me why she wasn't seen much in the U.K over the past couple of years and was she excited to be coming and performing at the O2 Arena for the first time where famous international celebs have given live performances. She replied, "I was there in Yorkshire IIFA's last year. It's always a pleasure to come to London to perform. Usually, I've been to Wembley quite a few times but this is going to be an even bigger and a better experience. Londoners have also been very vocal about how they feel and it's always a place where you get maximum people screaming and shouting and going nuts. I am looking forward to it." So whether you're lucky to get your hands on the tickets or not, one thing is sure - Bollywood Hungama will try and make sure to keep you updated with all the latest interviews from the star performers and much more. Watch this space! And before Preity Zinta says good bye, a piece of advice from her. "We are coming and I want everyone to be there. I promise we won't let you down because we are going to put up one hell of a great show. So be there".

Preity Zinta ko gussa kyun aata hai?

2008-06-27T01:31:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time Amitabh Bachchan had the total copyright over the anger matters. Later on heroes like Sunny Deol and Ajay Devgan shared few bits of the losing control.

On screen sweeties like Salman and Chichi have even created off screen hunguma either by knocking ladies’ doors or by slapping news guys. But sweet babies ire-ing and firing in the industry is quite an offbeat catch.

Though hard to believe but it’s true that it hardly takes few seconds to ignite anger in Priety. We all are aware of this tamed lioness’ angry side. Once this pretty actress gets angry then she is not the one who would back out from the fight.

Recently producer Tito Juneja’s son Sonny Juneja had to face the storm from this lady when he dared to throw comment on Priety’s acting capabilities while she was dubbing for Tito’s film Har Pal.

Priety got so bugged up with the continuous comments from Sonny that she decided to quit dubbing session and took a seat in a nearby park.

In the end director Jahnu Barua had to arrive on the sets to convince the angry actress for resuming the dubbing. Preity did so but only after Sonny was asked to leave the studio.

Whether reports of cold vibes between films cast Shiney Ahuja and Preity Zinta or Shiney’s balding problems, Har Pal has always been associated with these kinds of negative stories. But as you say in Bollywood, negative or positive, B-town personalities always welcome free publicity.

Maybe the uncontrollable anger fuming in the babe is just a part of that!

Preity invested in IPL despite astrologer's warning

2008-06-27T01:29:00.000-07:00

Exuberant, chirpy, happy-go-lucky Bollywood actress Preity Zinta, who has now turned into a businesswoman, says she invested in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in spite of warnings from an astrologer friend.

"In spite of the warning from my astrologer friend, I went for the deal as I had a gut feeling that it is the future. I told my friend that if it doesn't work for me then I would become the 50th wife of the Sultan of Brunei," Preity, who co-owns the IPL Mohali team, told reporters.

The star of hits like "Salaam Namastey" and "Kal Ho Naa Ho", Preity said it was only in a developing country like India that one could think of buying a sports team.

"The scenario is going to change after 10 years. One can never dream of buying a team like Manchester United or Arsenal today in a country like England."

Preity bought Kings XI Punjab in partnership with her boyfriend Ness Wadia and Karan Paul of Apeejay Surrendra Group and Mohit Burman of Dabur. They paid $76 million for the franchise.

Although Preity's team failed to reach the final, she is not complaining.

She said: "My team performed well and I am happy with all the team members and will continue my support for the team."

As far as book balancing was concerned, she said this had not been a profitable year but was optimistic they would do better next time.

How long will her association with the team last?

"I am there for life. I am not there just for the sake of it. First people took me as a brand ambassador and then as a face value, but I wanted to make people take me seriously in the game and I did my best to prove myself.

"I think I was successful (in this)," the actor added.

"I do things which I believe in and am passionate about, be it the IPL or films. I give my heart and soul to them," Preity said.

Now that IPL is over, Preity is concentrating on her films and the "Unforgettable" world tour with the Bachchans starting July 18.

She will be touring the US, Britain and Canada with Amitabh Bachchan, his son Abhishek and daughter-in-law Aishwarya. Riteish Deshmukh and music directors Vishal-Shekhar are also a part of the tour.

"I am very excited to go with them as Abhishek and Ash are my great friends. Besides, the participation of guest stars like Akshay Kumar, who is joining us in Canada, Madhuri (Dixit) in the US and Shilpa Shetty in London, will add to the excitement.

"This is the first time when we will be joined by performers from different parts. The audiences will be huge and we are expecting an overwhelming response."

Apart from this she will be busy with "Harr Pal", "Heroes", a cameo in the Salman-Kareena Kapoor starrer "Main Aur Mrs Khanna" and Deepa Mehta's Punjabi film "Heaven On Earth".

A flashy splashy Preity Zinta on Vogue

2008-06-02T11:06:00.000-07:00

If you thought the colour yellow was not in Vogue this summer, then, get ready to be dazzled by this sizzling actor-cum-businesswoman! She is the pretty Preity Zinta, whose flashy-splashy yellow attire gives a whole new 'image makeover', not to the actress, but to the colour yellow! We are referring to the gorgeous lady, whose electric smile in the latest edition of 'Vogue' is sending shockers to one and all!
In this issue, Preity speaks not just about her men (friends, relatives, colleagues etc...), but also her business acumen. She is indeed the darling of everyone alike. She goes onto give a day wise account of what it means to own a team in the prestigious IPL tournament. It was her first business venture- a whopping $ 76 million deal! Preity, besides being the well-known effervescently bubbly girl, is also the youngest and sole-female owner of a cricket team - the Kings XI Punjab! What an issue this is, really a collector's one!

Who is the next Bollywood queen?

2008-06-02T11:03:00.002-07:00

A couple of years ago, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Rani Mukerji and Preity Zinta were the ruling troika of queen bees in Bollywood.

Almost overnight, you have new favourites Kareena Kapoor and Katrina Kaif being labelled as the soon-to-be queens, thanks to their box-office successes in recent months.

Rani, who’s had a bad innings last year ( Ta Ra Rum Pum and Laaga Chunari Mein Daag ), was tinseltown’s blue-eyed girl until her films crashed at the box-office. Rumours of her marriage to Aditya Chopra didn’t go down well with the audience either.
Close rival Preity seems to have shifted gear to meaningful films and has become a franchisee owner of IPL, giving her no time for films. The Bachchan bahu has wrapped up for Sarkar Raj co-starring hubby Abhishek, walked the red carpet in Cannes Film Festival again and is exploring fresher avenues in Hollywood.

In such a scenario, it is inevitable that filmmakers would move on to newer stars who can offer bulk dates, commitment and box-office guarantee as well. Unlike male superstars, women stars never had that kind of sway over ticket windows anyway. While married male superstars are welcome, attached women superstars are almost outcasts even in 21st century Mumbai tinseltown. Why do top female superstars have such a limited shelf life? Says filmmaker Sanjay Gadhvi, “Globally, a film is sold mainly because of the male actor.

Except maybe a Julia Roberts, no female actor has been able to command a price at the box-office in Mumbai. So today, if we find Rani, Ash or Preity not doing many roles, it’s because they claim to have become selective. Katrina, Kareena or Bipasha are getting there, so they will be doing clichéd roles initially to establish a foothold in the industry.”

Some filmmakers feel the new crop of stars have enough talent too. Says Pritish Nandy, “There is an overflow of talent actually. There is Chitrangada Singh, Kangana Ranaut, Jiah Khan, Bipasha Basu, Kareena Kapoor, Katrina Kaif and so many more. But they all need good scripts.” Says trade analyst Komal Nahata, “Ash, Rani and Preity are not very hot now because they have passed their prime and are demanding huge sums of money. Producers are ready to bank on good male actors so obviously Ash, Rani and Preity will look for alternative careers or settle for marital bliss.”

Even as her Thoda Pyar Thodi Magic gets set for a theatrical release, Rani is preparing for Aditya Chopra’s next, Preity Zinta’s got Rituparno Ghosh’s The Last Lear, Jahnu Barua’s Har Pall, Deepa Mehta’s Canadian on Earth, Sameer Karnik’s Heroes, while Aishwarya’s Sarkar Raaj releases next week, after which she wraps up Pink Panther and Robot.

Preity Zinta however, is quick to point out, “There can’t be a hit movie without a (female) actor!” Rani confesses that the offers keep pouring in, but “nothing excites me. Now I am at a position that I can put my heart and soul into every role I do.”
Well, being choosy sometimes pays for the three divas, bringing them critical acclaim and commercial success. And when the formula doesn’t work, there are always younger stars to take over those slots.

Preity Zinta dumped by lover!

2008-06-02T11:03:00.001-07:00

Bollywood actress Preity Zinta may be looking pretty with boyfriend Ness Wadia but their relationship is said to have turned ugly if rumours are to be believed. The news is doing the rounds that they are splitting.

Rumours has it that Preity was stranded on the road by her beau Ness Wadia, making her bear the scorching summer sun. It is said that Preity, who was travelling in her boyfriend's car was suddenly seen on the street alone.

Has Preity's warm hugs with Yuvraj Singh, the captain of their IPL team King's XI, brought about the rift? Well, Ness should understand that she hugged for their team!

Preity advices against Bollywood dreams

2008-05-24T03:09:00.001-07:00

Bollywood actress Preity Zinta has asked young Indians who dream of making it big in the movies to complete their education first.

Zinta said that young people should have a back-up plan in case their plans of a movie career donâ€™t work out. â€œI never thought I would become such a big star,â€ she revealed.

A postgraduate in criminal psychology, Zinta, 32, never planned to be an actress. She struck fame when she was selected for a soap advertisement and later spotted by a well-known Bollywood filmmaker. â€œDonâ€™t give up your education to become an actress,â€ is her advice to youth hoping to be movie stars. â€œIf you are destined to become an actress you will. But you will always have a plan B to fall back on.â€ Zinta, has starred in several blockbusters in the past nine years since her Bollywood debut.

Bollywood beauties Aishwarya Rai and Preity Zinta at 61st Cannes Film Festival

2008-05-24T03:06:00.002-07:00

Bollywood stars Aishwarya Rai and her husband Abhishek Bachchan attended the the premiere of “Blindness” and Shahenshah of Bollywood Amitabh Bachchan was also there at the 61st Cannes Film Festival. Aishwarya Rai is the brand ambassador of L`Oreal, the French cosmetics giant which sponsors the Cannes Film Festival. Bachchan will be promoting many films in next few days which includes ‘Sarkar Raj’ and much awaited Goldie Bahl`s action film `Drona`.

Another Bollywood beauty Preity Zinta also attended the 61st Cannes Film Festival. She walked down the red carpet in blue outfit. Now indian cinema has reached out at international level and indian beauties are sparkling at Cannes Film Festival.

All’s not well between good looking couple Ness-Preity

2008-05-24T03:06:00.001-07:00

The jodi of Bombay dying head Ness Wadia and the cute bollywood actress Preity Zinta is very popular in the public. They were seen together at IPL bidding, seen hand in hand with each other, hugging each other, feding each other whenever Ness’s team perform. But the coming news says that now they both discard each other.

The story behind this is that Preity was traveling in the car with Ness but in the mid-way, she came out from the car and walked alone on the road of Chandigarh. To look her alone on the the road, a person connected with cricket league gave her lift. This Drama made it clear that they are not happy with each other.

Ness mother’s Maureen wadia also does not consider Ness and Preity as a good and perfect match. She too, is not ready to accept Preity as her daughter-in-law. On the other hand, Preity is emotionally attached with the member of Mohali team. This may also be reason for having such difference.

Preity Zinta poses for Vogue’s Cover Girl

2008-05-24T03:02:00.001-07:00

Cute looking Preity Zinta is busy these days with her IPL team. We all Know her love for sport as we are seeing her cheering in all the matches of Kings Eleven Punjab owned by her and Her tean have entered in to semifinal of IPL tournament. She shown her love for the cricket by giving photoshoot for famous magazine Vogue having bat in her hand. She looks ominous having bat in her hand while photoshoot.

She said”, It was Vogue’s idea to have bat in my hand and I was thinking it will not look good having bat in her hand but they want to do photoshoot like that and idea was to have best make up man and photographer for the perfect cover photoshoot”.

She said”, Even though I am involved in cricket very much but still films are her first love and it will not reduce for sports”.

Preity Zinta Interacting With Fans

2008-05-16T23:56:00.000-07:00

Preity Zinta looking gorgeous while attending the Soiree Chopard photocall at international the Cannes Film Festival 2008 currently underprogress at Cannes, France. Check our preity zinta’s latest photograph of cannes.

Exhausted Preity Zinta flies to Cannes

2008-05-16T15:51:00.000-07:00

In between cheering for her Indian Premier League (IPL) team and comforting the players, Bollywood star Preity Zinta has taken a few days off to attend the Cannes Film Festival as brand ambassador of Chopard, the maker of luxury watches and jewellery.

"Can't help it," the co-owner of the Mohali team said. "For two years now I've been the brand ambassador for Chopard and I've to be at Cannes every year, come what may."

The actress, who featured in hits like Soldier, Kal Ho Naa Ho and Dil Chahta Hai, has several events lined up in Cannes, but no movies.

"There are no movies this year. I'd have liked to bring my film Har Pal, but it isn't ready. If Rituparno Ghosh's Last Lear is shown, I'll go for it. But Chopard will keep me busy for the next three days.

“I've a red carpet event. Then a dinner organised by Chopard followed by a picnic in the afternoon. I return on May 17 and head immediately for my IPL commitments."

Understandably, she's exhausted. "But I'm also exhilarated. The IPL has been a whole new learning experience for me," said Preity, who is accompanied to Cannes by her cousin Inder.

What about those who feel that IPL is confusing?

"Not at all! It's such an eye-opener. Players of different age groups and of different nationalities are interacting on one platform. The younger lot is learning from senior international names. Where would they get a chance to do that?"

All for my boys!

2008-05-16T15:49:00.000-07:00

Call it sheer craving for entertainment or love for the game, but most Pakistanis sure can’t sleep without their daily dose of IPL on TV.

Like Indians, Pakistanis are hooked to the IPL phenomenon — though they are not new to the T-20 concept. They have their domestic tournaments, but the size and star value of the IPL are simply irresistible. It doesn’t matter where they are in the evening — their drawing rooms or in a hotel lobby — the matches are a must-watch.

Watching SRK doing a jig in the stands or Preity Zinta cheering her team is an obvious bonus, but the cricket is what actually interests her, insists Amra, a student of the prestigious National College of Art.

It’s not just about watching Shoaib Akhtar play for Kolkata or Shoaib Malik for Delhi. Many in this country, in fact, are not impressed with the performance of the Pakistani players, an exception being the Rawalpindi Express. “All my friends have just gone crazy. They are watching every minute of the games,” says Rahat, a student of the Lahore University of Management Sciences.

Geo Super, which is airing the matches live, has seen a surge in popularity. Some Lahoris have a complaint though. “Lahore should be included as an IPL venue next season,” suggests Babar, a business executive. Who knows, the IPL managers might just oblige.

Thank your stars, it’s a ball

2008-05-13T04:20:00.002-07:00

What’s the IPL funda? “Bollywood rules and business follows,” says brand domain expert Harish Bijoor.

And now the ruling faces of Bollywood are ruling the pitch as well. From SRK to Katrina, to Akshay Kumar and southern actor Vijay, all the biggies of tinselville are in the VIP boxes cheering for their fave teams. BT checks out which star ambassadors score the most. adds.

Kolkata Knight Riders: Shah Rukh Khan
According to Harish Bijoor, King Khan emerges at the top of the heap. “SRK is the best bet in the business and his endorsement value across all brands is very solid. So for the Kolkata Knight Riders and IPL itself, he’s the ultimate brand ambassador,” he says.

“I went for the opening match between the Royal Challengers and the Kolkata Knight Riders and realised that SRK was a bigger draw than the IPL. Everyone was more interested in seeing him than following the action on the pitch,” says Radio Mirchi RJ and actor Avinash Bhardwaj. “And even though Shah Rukh isn’t present at every match, he steals the show when he is,” he adds.

Kings XI Punjab: Preity Zinta

Neha, Katrina, Preity and Sikandar get hot on 'Dhokha'

2008-05-13T04:20:00.001-07:00

The stars of 'Woodstock Villa', Sikandar Kher, Neha Uberoi, Shibani Kashyap, Aryans and Anchal, rocked the stadium at Bangalore for the T20 IPL Match between Royal Challengers & Kings 11 Punjab on Monday.

Neha Uberoi kick started with the world class cheerleaders of Royal Challengers on the 'Dhoka' song. The crowds lapped up the performance and joined with the chorus line 'Dhokha'. It was an interesting performance to see the cheerleaders match step with Neha Uberoi live on a Bollywood number 'Dhokha' for the first time.

Sikandar Kher, then made a starry entry, which had the girls raving about the handsome hunk, who will be making a spectacular debut with this film.

The singers of Woodstock Villa, Aryans, Shibani Kashyap, and Anchal took over as the stadium rocked with their chartbusting numbers.

The visit of the celebrities to the Bangalore IPL was to promote the film 'Woodstock Villa', as a synergy with cricket and entertainment which was a resounding success.

Sikandar Kher and Neha Uberoi then joined Katrina Kaif and Preity Zinta, as they cheered their respective teams.

Preity makes a pretty pic

2008-05-13T04:19:00.001-07:00

Preity Zinta’s been getting a lot of pleasant surprises during the matches where her IPL team from Mohali has played.

At one such match, a few of her fans in the crowd held up a poster of hers, and when, later, Preity saw the photo, she reacted with typical effervescence.

“Oh my!” she exclaimed in surprise. “This has to be the oldest picture of me. I don’t even remember when it was clicked!”

When Brett sang for Preity

2008-05-06T03:19:00.000-07:00

Actor Preity Zinta, say sources, was very impressed by the performances of her Australian cricketers in the ongoing IPL. Hence, she not only threw a farewell party for them, before they bid adieu to the league for their national duty, but also danced the night away with her Mohali team.

Preity’s team (bought for $76 million for a 10-year term), flaunts the likes of Brett Lee, Simon Katich, James Hopes. Captained by Yuvraj Singh, it is currently fourth in the league and has garnered eight points after playing six matches. Simon played two matches and made 95 runs; Lee played four matches, took four wickets and made 17 runs. Hopes played three matches, made 105 runs and took two wickets.

“Preity is very pleased with the Australians as they have contributed to the fortunes of her team. She wanted to give something back to them. So, she threw a party after Mohali won against the Delhi side. Preity too danced the night away with them. The party went on till four in the morning. Preity had also invited the Delhi team to join in. Some Delhi players were present,” reveals the source.

He adds, “Brett also sang during the party. It doesn’t matter if Mohali wins or loses, parties happen every night. Cricket is a sportsman’s game after all. You win some and you lose some and Preity believes in this motto too.”