Why had Preity Zinta disappeared?

A lot of reasons have been attributed to Preity Zinta's long absence from the big screen. But the real story behind her disappearing act has been a well-kept secret, until now. Finally, after all these years, Preity is willing to talk about it. She says she had a nasty fall when she was in the US, which left her back badly injured.

Recalling the incident, Preity says, "I couldn't bend. I couldn't move. I was on constant medication and painkillers. My life revolved around medical tests and physiotherapy. I was unable to move, walk or do anything for more than two months. Everybody wanted to know why I was not doing any films. But I couldn't do anything! I don't want to even think about it."

Her mother was by her side throughout during her ailment. "The only thing that I want to remember from that dark period is my mom. She looked after me as if I were a baby all over again. She was constantly there. I couldn't have been back on my feet were it not for her," she says. Now that she is fully recovered, Preity is resolute about getting back to work. "I am not going to say no to any work. I will soon be starting new films. I am also getting into a new business venture" The actress admits that she was disillusioned with the kind of film offers coming her way, until she saw the Sharib Hashmi starrer Filmistan. "It made me sit up and think. If a film made on such a shoestring budget can be so heartwarming, why am I not doing any movies? Cinema is such a heartwarming medium of expression." She says now she is back in the thick of things. "No one could have forced me to return. I have returned only because I wanted to. I am now listening to new scripts," she says.