While this seems to be the age of content-driven films that are overpowering the star-studded films, actress Preity Zinta says that this could be the new trend now but as far as her choices in the films go, it has been content-driven since the beginning.
“When I got into movies, everyone made fun of me saying that now I will wear a white saree and dance. But, I didn’t want to go in front of the world and make a fool out of myself,” says the 44-year-old actress and adds, “I needed a script where my character had something to say.” And, undoubtedly her work speaks for the same. Among the movies that she did are Kya Kehna, Mission Kashmir, Chori Chori Chupke Chupke, Kal Ho Na Ho, Salaam Namaste, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, Veer-Zara and others.
While Kya Kehna addressed the subject of teenage pregnancy and single motherhood, Chori Chori Chupke Chupke saw her playing the role of a sex-worker who agrees to be a surrogate mother, Dil Hai Tumhara saw her as an adopted daughter craving love. “There is something fresh about not being a film kid... You don’t come with film conditioning. For me, it has to make sense to be part of any project,” she adds.
The actress also says that she had set some limitations for herself and anything that she felt was vulgar was turned down. “Anything, which I felt is little vulgar or weird was a clear ‘no’. Fortunately, I had success in the beginning of my career and that led people to take me seriously. I didn’t want to embarrass my parents or future children, so I chose films accordingly and it worked,” says the actress. When asked if Preity would want to try her luck in the digital space, she says, “I always had offers from there but for me, without sounding arrogant, I am not doing this because I don’t have to feed myself. 10 years ago, I was doing this to feed myself and even then I was choosing content over money. Today, I am acting only out of passion and I want to challenge myself as an actor.”
