Interview : Go candid with Priety Zinta!

Excerpts from an Interview:

You have just clinched the IPL bid for Mohali Cricket Team? What else do you resolve to conquer this year?

I really wish that all my releases do extremely good this year and also my newly formed cricket team excels beyond all limits.

Your kitty seems to be stuffed with offbeat films counting Rituparno Ghosh's The Last Lear, Janhu Barua's Har Pall and Deepa Mehta's Heaven On Earth. What's happening on the commercial front?

Well, I was kinda fed up of doing the same stuff time and again. I had almost donned similar kind of roles in five back-to-back films. I was in need of a change, something new that re-energized my spirits and interests. That's when I decided to go on with The Last Lear. However, I'm not going low commercially. Har Pall isn't a non-conformist film at all. I'm also a part of Samir Karnik's Heroes. So you see, my career isn't free from commercial jerks (grins).

Firstly it had the grand Mr. Amitabh Bachchan. Not that this is the first time I'm working with him. But it's always a pleasure to have him around in your film. Also the fact that this film awards me with an entirely different look made it all the more fascinating. I was almost stunned with disbelief to see myself clad in sari, big bindi, long hair that I kept running back to mirror all the time to check myself out. This film is unlike any other films I've done so far. And it was just a great start to kick off with my pang for something unusual and extraordinary.

So The Last Lear was your first rendezvous to the offbeat world of cinema?

Yes. Rituparno introduced me to this whole new world of films. In a way, he helped me get Deepa Mehta's film too. He showed me, that being a part of such different films isn't a bleak affair. But like any other commercial film, shooting for it is fun too. But I must confess. I did miss my usual share of songs and dance.

It's heard that you nearly collapsed on the sets of Deepa Mehta's Heaven On Earth. Did the stress consume you?

Is Heaven On Earth made on the lines of physical abuse and domestic violence like Provoked?

No, there are no similarities between the two. Heaven On Earth is way beyond Provoked. It isn't just about the marital journey of two people. Heaven On Earth deals about two people migrating out of India, in search of heaven abroad. There is also a strong spiritual facet to it as well.

What stirred you to go on with Janhu Barua's Har Pall?

The most captivating thing about this film was that it brought me face-to-face with Dharamendra. He is the actor I've grown up adoring and admiring. I've always longed to act with him. He is so translucent, the clarity of his character just grows on you. During my entire career, I got star-truck thrice. First were Amitji, then Dara Singhji and now Dharamji. All of them are fantastic performers and a sheer delight to work with.

Tell us something about Heroes?

Lastly, how did you clinch the Mohali deal?

I always longed for a sports academy. And when this IPL thing showed up, I viewed it as one big opportunity and acted on it once. I'm more than happy to bag this deal as our Mohali team comprises of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu Kashmir and Haryana - I have got the head of India.

Also I've put in my hard earned money into it, so it's all the more dear to me. Now I'm just looking forward to make it the best team.