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 After attending the Harvard business school Preity Zinta is all set
to dabble in various aspects of the entertainment industry, including
production. Preity feels she is now equipped to handle her role as an entrepreneur far better. Speaking at length on her experiences for the first time Preity
says, “I took the plunge in December and went back to school, to
Harvard School. Believe me, it was the most enriching experience of my
life. I didn’t do it because I wanted to go back to college. I wanted
to learn about business management so I could be a better entrepreneur.”
Preity attended classes at Harvard for three weeks every day from 9
am to 11 pm. “When I joined films I never went to an acting school.
Then last year I did a two-day workshop with Anupam Kher. It enriched
me so much. I wondered why I never went to acting school. Now that I’m
an entrepreneur I didn’t want to look back and ask the same question
one day. I had to go to the best business school in the world. When I
filled out the admission form for Harvard my hands were shaking. I had
tried earlier and couldn’t get in.”
When Preity got selected for Harvard she was ecstatic. “I got in on
sheer merit and not because I was a star in Bollywood. When I went
there I was so nervous. I wasn’t even computer savvy. I was scared I
wouldn’t understand a lot of what was said in the classes. And I
didn’t. But I wasn’t scared to put up my hand in class and ask
questions. No one knew me there.”
Soon of course word spread among the Asians in the campus that Preity Zinta was in their midst.
Laughs the hassle-free actress. “The Indians in the faculty did
recognize me eventually. They were taken aback that I was coming to
Harvard. But they were discreet. They’d come up and say. ‘Oh my God,
what’re you doing here? Why aren’t you doing movies any more?’ At the
gym on the campus I saw a work-out dance class for cardio exercises and
when I went there they were dancing to Bollywood stuff including my
‘Where’s the party tonight’. When I joined them the dance instructor
said, ‘You really move your hips well.’ I had the best time of my life.
I felt so proud to see so many young Asian students in Harvard. That
was the future. It was fantastic. I learnt negotiations and mergers
acquisitions, etc. There were students from all over the world,
including of course Asians. More than the just the course, the
questions that the students asked were so pertinent.”
Preity is ready to apply her newly-found business acumen to various
ventures. “But as far as my role in the IPL cricket team is concerned
it’s all settled down now. I don’t need to give that much time to
cricket. My focus is back to movies. I’m on the verge of signing new
films.”
Speaking about her new equation with Ness Wadia as purely business
partners Preity shakes her head, “The media has been trying to find
awkwardness in our equation. Why should that be? We’re still good
friends. We’re no longer seeing each other. We’re colleagues now. If
ever I’m in a situation I’m sure he’d watch my back, as I’d watch his.
But would people let go of this fascination with the equation between
me and Ness? It’s been one year since we broke up.”
Preity feels her mode of discreet frankness in her public conduct is
now getting outdated. “I’m surrounded by celebrities who are constantly
discussing their personal lives. I’m the same Preity Zinta I used to
be. You won’t find me discussing my private life in detail. I’m in a
very good space right now. The only problem is, any man whom I’m seen
with in public is automatically linked with me. I’ve come to a place
where none of my male friends want to go out with my any more! I think
I’ll just have to pick my date for the next public event through a
contest.”
Preity has been spending a lot of time outside Mumbai. On Republic
Day she was in Delhi hanging out with her closest school friend Shagun.
“I watched the Republic Day parade on television. I love the parade.
It’s a moment of great pride every year. There’s so much chaos all
around us. That’s one day and one sphere of activity where we see a
comforting discipline and elegance. It’s always been this way. Whenever
I’m not shooting I’m out of the country. Don’t get me wrong. I love
Mumbai to death. But tell me what can an actor do in the city if she
isn’t working? I can’t go out partying. I can’t even take a jog. What
do I do on a Sunday? I can’t even go out. Now (after the Ness episode)
it’s become worse . I can’t go out with any guy. If I do I’ve to beg
some women to come along, otherwise the guy and I get linked up. I
can’t handle it anymore.”
To Preity’s horror she now has to cope with rumors of being linked
not only with her co-stars but also with cricketers. “Can you imagine
members of my own team! I’ve always maintained I’d never mix business
and pleasure. Now that I’m getting fully into business I’m narrowing my
chances of finding a man. I know I’d never get into criminal
activities, so maybe…..”
And Preity bursts into long throaty laughter.
“Last year I was too busy experiencing life to talk about it. 2009
was a year of learning for me. Now I reap the dividends of what I
learnt. I went back to college. I realized there’s so much to me that
that I and forgotten. I wasn’t traveling and nursing a broken heart.
Just because I wasn’t giving explanations! The worst you can do to
someone who’s recovering from an emotional setback is to crowd them. I
should’ve been left alone. It’s like a death in your family. Those
condolence calls just set your teeth on edge. My way of dealing with my
breakup was to move on. The Harvard experience really rejuvenated me.
I’ve come back a different person. You watch 2010 is going to be the
best year of my life. As Mr. Bachchan would say, it’s going to be
mind-boggling.”
Sampurn Wire
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