Preity G Zinta was one of the defining faces of early-2000s Hindi cinema, particularly when it came to romantic films and rom-coms. From Dil Chahta Hai and Kal Ho Naa Ho to Veer-Zaara and Salaam Namaste, she became synonymous with characters that were warm, spirited and independent. Years later, after choosing to focus on her family and life in the US, the actress is back on the Indian screen. She was seen earlier this year in Batwara 1947 alongside Sunny Deol and is now gearing up for Kunal Kemmu’s Vibe.
But Vibe is a very different world for the actress. Written and directed by Kemmu, the film is a high-stakes action comedy with a spy-comedy setup, following two ordinary friends, played by Kemmu and Sparsh Shrivastava, who find themselves caught up in a dangerous mission to save the country. At the centre of that chaos is Preity’s Madam H, a commanding, patriotic character who stays in control while everyone around her scrambles to keep up.
For Preity, the film offered more than just a change of genre. Madam H allowed her to explore a side of herself as an actor that she hadn’t really had the opportunity to tap into before. One of the biggest discoveries was getting to do something she had wanted to try for years: action.
“I’ve always wanted to do action, so that was exciting. And what’s new about Madam H is she’s one of the very few characters I’ve played where she will go to any lengths. She loves her country, and she’ll do anything by hook or by crook,” she tells us in an exclusive conversation.
The actress continues, “I’ve always played characters which are more straight-laced. This one has an edge. There are so many different shades, and that was a new discovery for me as an actor. I’ve done a lot of commercial movies but even then my characters had a different tone. Sometimes I found it a little difficult to grasp things, but Kunal was very particular and he knew what he wanted, which made it easier.”
The atmosphere on the Vibe set brought its own challenge for the actress. Kemmu and Shrivastava could be funny, but Zinta had to remain serious. She jokes, “It was a tough vibe for me because they were laughing and being funny, and I had to be serious. There’s this one scene where Sparsh is on a chair, and he comes hopping on it. I had to be serious because Kunal wanted me to be in a particular way. I had to remember all my lines and had to be serious. I couldn’t laugh, but they were being so funny.”
It wasn’t the first time she had found herself surrounded by people making her laugh while she was required to remain serious. She faced the same problem on Dil Chahta Hai. The actress continues, “I had that in Dil Chahta Hai as well. Everybody was funny, but I had to be serious. And I fought with Farhan (Akhtar). I told him that’s not fair.”
Preity G Zinta on the return of rom-coms
Beyond Vibe, the conversation naturally turns to romance, a genre that has been closely associated with her career. Having starred in some of the most remembered romantic films and rom-coms of the 2000s, she feels there is still an appetite for that kind of cinema, although the way people approach love has changed.
“I hope people make better romantic films now. Today’s romance is very much like going on an app and swiping. If not you then someone else. Digitally you can feel whatever, but you’ve got to live life in the real world. But there are, maybe not rom-coms, but other beautiful films that have come. I’m not going to say films today are not great. Not all, but a lot of films are good and different. But I would like to see a really nice rom-com, yes. I hope somebody makes it. Because people are going to love it,” she shares.
The recent romance that worked for her was Mohit Suri’s Saiyaara, starring Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padaa. “The last film that I liked was a romance, Saiyaara. It was beautiful. So, there’s a huge market for it.”
Does Preity G Zinta revisit her films?
There is also a renewed nostalgia for the films of Preity’s era. Dil Chahta Hai has completed 25 years, while Veer-Zaara is approaching its 22nd anniversary, and audiences continue to revisit films from the early 2000s. But Preity herself isn’t someone who goes back and watches her own work.
“Unless I’ve dubbed for a film, I don’t see my own films. I haven’t seen any of my own films. I’ve never seen any of my films. Having said that, if there’s a nice film coming, irrespective of whatever time it is, and I have the time to watch it, I will watch it.”
Yet she isn’t opposed to revisiting some familiar on-screen chemistry. If the right script comes along, there are several actors she would like to work with again.
“I had different chemistries with a lot of people. I would love to work with Bobby (Deol). I started my career with him, and never really got to do more than one film with him. Saif Ali Khan is one of my all-time favourites. Also Shah Rukh, because I love the chemistry we have, especially in comedy. So, it really depends on the script.”
Meanwhile, Vibe, written and directed by Kunal Kemmu, stars him alongside Preity Zinta, Sparsh Shrivastava and Vanshika Dhir in pivotal roles. It is set to release in theatres on September 18.
Also Read: Vibe Trailer: Kunal Kemmu, Sparsh Shrivastava and Preity Zinta Gear Up for a High-stakes Mission