Preity Zinta has always been Bollywood’s brave babe. Her ‘bravery’ should not be confused with the shallow ‘boldness’ that her contemporaries exhibit by showing off their bodies in skimpily clad outfits. The feisty actress’ strength lies in her selection of roles as well as her ability to speak her mind even off the screen. No wonder Deepa Mehta chose Preity to be a protagonist in her women-oriented social drama Videsh, earlier known as Heaven on Earth. Renuka Vyavahare met Preity Zinta to know more about her internationally acclaimed film Videsh.
What is Videsh all about?
Videsh is a film which shows how the power of imagination helps us elevate our lives when reality becomes simply unbearable. It’s not just a story of Chand who leaves her family residing in India’s small village and goes abroad after marriage only to get subjected to abuse, it’s a story of millions of girls who go through the same dilemma and have no support system in Videsh. It’s a full bodied film in which abuse just plays a small but integral part. The film is also about immigration.
What prompted you to do an off-beat women-oriented social drama?
India has a great culture but there are certain rituals that are often hidden under the carpet. Someone had to talk about these issues that continue bothering women even till today! I was glad Deepa thought I was the one. Also, Videsh was a huge departure from the roles that I was bored doing. I was frustrated playing a woman who knew where she is going in life.
