The Hindu Business Line : The fun girl

Don't ask Preity Zinta about who the number one actress in Bollywood is. She will not get trapped in any number game. And she has got everything going right for her. She has been invited for the Cannes film festival in May and its official dinner along with director Karan Johar. "It is a great honour," said Preity, who joins the ranks of Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai in the list of Cannes guests.

Manish Malhotra would design her outfits for the festival scheduled from May 17-28."Every star at the festival appears in special costumes and I have full confidence in Manish to come out with something really eye-catching," said Preity. After her return from Cannes, she will start shooting for Shaad Ali's Jhoom Bara Bar Jhoom with Abhishek Bachchan.

The `pretty' star is currently on a month-long world tour (titled `The Heat') that comprises shows and special appearances. Unfortunately, Saif Ali Khan had to drop out of the tour because of ill health. And Preity might have to do more solo items, which means extra sessions with the choreographer for her. "I will miss my Salaam Namaste co-star and my stage act with him," she said. Performing before a live audience is quite a challenge, said Preity. Their expectations are high and the tour could be exhausting. Indians abroad love their stars and turn up in huge numbers.

However, Preity had some unexpected respite this year, thanks to delays in her shooting schedules. Amitabh Bachchan's illness caused a delay in the shooting of Karan Johar's Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna; and a break from the Jaaneman schedule, as her co-star Salman Khan shaved off his hair. These two films along with Rakesh Roshan's Krrish will be released later this year. Is Preity playing Hrithik Roshan's mother in this sequel to Koi... Mil Gaya? "See for yourself and decide," she laughed. Meanwhile, she also walked the ramp for a Manish Malhotra creation at the Lakme Fashion Week in Mumbai.

Eight years in Bollywood, and the girl who came to study Criminal Psychology in Mumbai has grown very popular. Preity is working with the industry's top banners, and has now moved into a new flat; and her relationship with Ness Wadia is stable. "It is the question of organising one's life according to one's wishes," she observed. "I think I have succeeded here."

A Mumbai daily recently quoted Wadia's mother, Maureen, as saying that Preity was a "fun girl" and that Ness and Preity were a "fun couple". Returning the compliment, Preity said that Maureen was very elegant and lots of fun. Preity is a fun girl, yes... because she has successfully managed to keep her professional and personal lives separate.

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