I will quit the day my work ceases to exc

Preity Zinta tells Jyothi Venkatesh that it has been a very rewarding journey for her from 'Dil Se' to 'Jhoom Barabar Jhoom' as an actor...

With 'Jhoom Barabar Jhoom' opposite Abhishek Bachchan, you have completed nine years in film industry. How do you feel?

It has been indeed a very rewarding journey for me from 'Dil Se' to 'Jhoom Barabar Jhoom', as an actress. The twenty films in which I had worked in these nine years in this industry has taught me to respect my profession and the people I work with. I keep my head on my shoulders, though I concede it is quite a tough task. I have learnt here that hard work never fails. To me every script is a big challenge. Every new film is a challenge to me. The day I am not excited by my work in the industry, I will quit the field.

What is your role in 'Jhoom Barabar Jhoom'?

I play the role of Alvira. She is your typical Pakistani Brit. She would hate to acknowledge the Pakistani part, because she is more Brit than the Queen herself is. Despite living in a ghettoized Lahori household, Alvira has that stiff upper lip attitude towards the riff-raff... especially those crass Southalliyas with their lack of polish and their over-friendliness. That job she has as Manager at the House of Fraser's is a godsend. She can hobnob with the hip Bond Streeters any time she likes... Yea, that is what she calls 'class'!

Tell us about your co-stars in 'Jhoom Barabar Jhoom'?

'Jhoom Barabar Jhoom' is an out and out hilarious film in which I have some funny interludes with both Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan. I am lucky that I have had the opportunity to act with Big B in not one but two films - 'Jhoom Barabar Jhoom' and Rituparno Ghosh's 'The Last Lear'. Besides both the Sr as well as Jr Bachchan, in 'Jhoom Barabar Jhoom', Bobby Deol and Lara Dutta are also there. 'JBJ' has been directed by Shaad Ali.

How tough was it to act with Big B in 'The Last Lear'?

In 'The Last Lear', it was quite a tough task for me to play a bad actor in a drama troupe who is pitted against an actor of the stature of Amitabh Bachchan, who by the way, plays a veteran Shakespearean actor.

You are known as a choosy actress who picks and chooses her roles with great care. What made you accept 'Mera Bharat Mahan' to be directed by Sameer Karnik who had earlier directed a flop like 'Kyun Ho Gaya Na'?

I loved Sameer's script. It is an episodic film with a strong social message. I have been cast opposite Salman Khan in 'Mera Bharat Mahan'.

In what way do you feel that you have evolved as an actress since 'Dil Se'?

I think it is for people to say to what extent I have evolved since then. 'Dil Se' had me in a bubbly role as a non-stop talkative girl. I am glad I have been able to play different type of roles in different films of mine. In 'Dil Chahta Hai', unlike in 'Dil Se', I played the role of Shalini who was a girl of very few words. I think there is more maturity in me now as an actress. I have had more of my grooming now. The comfort level as an actress and confidence have come with experience and success. I just cannot believe that I have to my credit as many as twenty released films in Hindi.

To what extent does star cast matter in a film?

It is very important for actors to support movies like 'Dil Chahta Hai' because all said and done, star cast does matter a lot. In today's world stars need directors and directors need stars. It is relative. Stars like Aamir, Akshaye and Saif who are good actors are definitely needed to portray good roles and make a film better.

What did you learn from Aamir Khan?

To have fun and yet perform like there is no tomorrow is what I learnt from Aamir. His level of focusing as an actor is immense. I learnt from him not in terms of how to give a shot but how to be involved in one's scene. Aamir learnt from me how easy it is for an actor to give his shot without thinking too much about the role.

How would you describe Hrithik as a co-star as well as a friend?

I was a star when we were working together in 'Mission Kashmir'. Hrithik was very new since his 'Kaho Na Pyar Hai' had not been released then. We knew each other before it since Suzanne was a good friend of mine. The first time I met Hrithik was when Susanne had brought him along for my birthday party when both Hrithik and I weren't in films at all. However, now that Hrithik has become a super star, people ask me how does it feel to know Hrithik. Hrithik is a great guy. Success is yet to change him. He is cool. Success has actually made Hrithik more confident as a person.

To what extent do you depend on your director?

I am of the opinion that an actor's failure in any film is in fact the director's failure because it is the director who okays a shot unless and until you are the worst actor in the world. The actor is a mere tool in the hands of the director who is the real hero. I take up any role only if it excites me completely. I try to get into its niitty gritties, like where am I, whether in India or abroad, what is my family background etc which help me determine the kind of personality that I am and then set out to develop my character and its various nuances.

Which film till date has disturbed you even after the pack up?

Though I am a happy go lucky chirpy girl, there are times when I do get disturbed. Long after the pack up, I used to remain disturbed when I was working in 'Sunghursh'. The film made me extremely uneasy as a person.

How important is it for an actor to take risks?

I feel that it is very necessary for a person to take big risks in life. If you require to do things which are very different, it is very necessary for you to take risks in life. Sometime they may work and sometime they may even misfire. My strength as an actress is that people can identify with me very easily and even feel me. I guess I am able to strike the right chord and relate to them so much so that they feel sorry for me, bad for me when I pass through a bad phase.

What is your approach as an actor?

For me the script is of paramount importance. I had agreed to work in 'Dil Chahta Hai' when Farhan Akhtar offered the role because the script which was mind boggling floored me even though I knew that it wasn't my film at all. As an actor, I am focused at all times. If I do not understand what my role is when the director sets out to narrate it, I cannot be fair to it and hence will even turn down the offer whatever money is offered to me. If I do not identify with something, it is very difficult for me to portray the character easily.

To what extent are you afraid of competition?

Actresses aren't competition material as far as I am concerned. I feel films are competition to me. I feel as an actress, I should do better than what films like 'Lagaan' or 'Dil Chahta Hai' have done, appreciation wise. I cannot afford to remain a frog in the well and indulge in petty jealousies and back stabbing, especially at a time when Cinema itself is changing for the better and we have films like 'Lagaan', 'Dil Chata Hai' and 'Jhoom Barabar Jhoom'.