For Those Who Missed Me...Main Hoon Na!

One of the best things about finishing this semester is returing to Bitten By Bollywood! It's been a long three months...Resisting the urge to type up 10 paragraphs on how much I loved Main Hoon Na instead of cracking open my nursing textbook was sheer agony!

But....Main Hoon Na!!!

I saw this one twice in the past couple of months. It literally saved my semester, because with all the homework I had, there were a few times where I just had to get away. And what a fun place to escape to--Main Hoon Na was everything snappy and sweet and Shahrukhy that I love about B-wood. Farah Khan really gives you your money's worth--you get action (Shahrukh in his Mission Impossible gear in the first sequence was hot), a creepy villain(Suniel Shetty, you scare me), some good family stuff (nothing boring), catchy songs (I can't even pick a favorite), comedy (Farah, you have a great sense of humor), and Sushmita Sen's gorgeous saris (Which we'll take a peek at later!).



The plot outline really doesn't do the movie justice, so I'll just skim it over before we get into the good stuff. Major Ram Prasad Sharma (Shahrukh Khan) goes undercover at a university to protect the General's daughter(Amrita Rao) from the wrath of the enemy, a terrorist named Raghavan (Suniel Shetty). At this university Major Ram also finds his long lost brother (Zayed Khan) and meets a beautiful teacher whom he falls for instantly (Sushmita Sen).



What is it about high school and college stories that I so adore? Why is it always so appealing to watch a movie or a soap opera that centers around teenagers and young adults? There's just something about them that takes me back to that period of my life, from my first crush to being the new kid, from the stress of the school lunch room to the need for peer acceptance. Main Hoon Na, while set in a university, still has that high school vibe. There's a zany principal and wacky teachers, and you meet just the right amount of students to make you feel at home when the school dance scene rolls around. Amrita Rao's character, Sanjana, even gets a makeover that transforms her from the girl next door to a polished beauty (Although I thought she looked great before the transformation, I still love makeover sequences. Even though, as Beth once said, I feel a twinge of guilt for it-I hate to think beauty has to conform to a certain image, but gosh, its still fun to watch! )



There are a lot of relationships in the film, and they all worked for me. Shahrukh and Naseeruddin Shah were surprisingly believable as father and son. Amrita Rao's crush on Zayed Khan was cute and sort of reminiscent of Anjali and Rahul of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. Shahrukh and Sushmita's romance, while a very minor part of the film, added just the right amount of color to the story (Literally--check out the vibrant "Tumhe Jo Maine Dekha"). But the most memorable relationship in Main Hoon Na was the touching reunion of brothers Major Ram and Lucky (Zayed Khan's character). These two worked really well together here, and Farah Khan took great care in developing little details to accent their bond, such as their signature gesture of running their hand around their head (reprised in Zayed's Om Shanti Om cameo). Kirron Kher as Lucky's mother adds even more emotion and depth in some of the pivotal scenes towards the end, making this angle of the story the heart of Main Hoon Na.



As I mentioned above, Suniel Shetty is one scary villain. If I ever make a Bollywood film of my own, I'd cast him as the bad guy in a heartbeat. He had the same effect on me as Umrao Jaan's sleazeball regular customer...the man just looks shady. Yet its the funniest thing...when I see him in press photos or cameos, I'm surprisingly attracted to him. There's something about the way he carries himself, or the way he dresses that makes me forget all about the creeps he plays. Which, I suppose, is a complement to his performances.



And where has Zayed Khan been all my life? I really enjoyed him as Lucky--he's like John Abraham with personality. It could have been the storyline, though. The idea of two long lost brothers reuniting has sentimental value to me, as I had a similar experience when meeting my own little sister. She's spunky and hip and I'm the not-so-cool big sister, but we click despite the age difference. As a matter of fact, she's totally the Lucky and I'm totally the Major Ram--I'm always grabbing her off of rooftops!

Amirta Rao showed some more life than in her refined performance as the perfect Ponam in Vivah. Her relationship with Lucky, while again not the the focal point of the film, made for a refreshing couple to root for.



I'd heard so much about Sushmita Sen but had never seen her in a movie. Now I can see why her name remains in the media and blogs, despite her lack of recent film releases. She's just so beautiful, classy, and even perfect for comedy (as she proved in some of her scenes with Shahrukh).Her role in Main Hoon Na was relatively small, but she made a good first impression on me--it looked like she really had fun with it.

Naseeruddin Shah and Kirron Kher couldn't have been better cast--although again, they didn't have huge roles. They just added the right touches to an already fantastic product.

As for Shahrukh, this has got to be one of my favorite characters I've seen him as. He wasn't too over the top, he wasn't too aggressive, and he looked mighty fine. And his hair was just the way I like it--Not to big, not too long, not a mullet, and no mustache. The only thing I could find fault in was his bell bottoms and vest...a little too dorky for me (Especially after seeing him all cool in his action sequences). Yet it did make his character more endearing, I suppose.



I know I said I couldn't pick a favorite song, but...can they all be my favorites? Seriously, Farah Khan's earned my trust in the song selection department, because just as in Om Shanti Om, I enjoyed every single one. Even "Tumse Milke Dil Ka", the song that has Shahrukh lip-syncing the lamest phrase ever--"Like that--Check that--Wicked!" But if I had to pick an absolute favorite, it would probably be "Tumhe Jo Maine Dekha", a song I appreciated more when I listened to it on my Ipod...its picturization was so vibrant that I didn't notice the music had just as much color.



Which brings me to Sushmita's saris. Now, I've never worn a sari before, but after seeing some of Miss Chandni's, I really want one. They were so pretty...and different. Let's close this post with a tribute to them!



Did you notice her bookcover matches the sari? Yep, most of them have matching book covers.Really.










And my absolute favorite...








Text © Nida Nazir 2008

Preity Zinta is the sexiest lady in her 30s

30s is the age in which a woman can look truly beautiful, mystical, magical and ripe with beauty. A woman in her 30s has a confident streak in her, there is a definite amount of sensuousness in her personality, there is grace, there is dignity and yes...oodles of sexiness. That is the magic of a woman in her 30s-poised, presentable yet provocative. Speaking of beautiful words with P, the sexiest lady in her 30s also has her name beginning with a 'P'. Let's give a big hand to Preity Zinta, the sexiest woman in her 30s.

Preity zinta : 32 percent votes
Shilpa shetty: 24 percent votes
Aishwarya Rai: 18 percent votes
Rani Mukherjee: 13 percent votes
Tabu: :11 percent votes

Preity Zinta has been a supersuccessful, confident woman in every sense of the word. Like Shahrukh Khan, she exists beyond Bollywood. Preity Zinta has been the co-owner of Kings XII Punjab along with boyfriend Ness Wadia in the IPL cricket series 2008. Preity Zinta also won the Godfrey Phillips National Bravery Award, where she testified against the mafia in the Bharat Shah case. The Shimla born dimpled beauty is all of 33 now; Preity Zinta is definitely a sexy lady to whom we can say Salaam Namastey.

priety Zinta Cannes 2008 Photos

PREITY ZINTA: THE BRAND

preity Zinta along with her entire Mohali team is headed to Bangkok to address a media conference. "I am looking forward to the conference. I want to be the driving force behind my team," she says. Recently a foreign publication named Preity as the most influential businesswoman who owned an entire IPL team. But Preity says that things aren't easy just because she is a boss of a team. "In fact it is the other way round," she says. "As a boss I have not only to remain in constant touch with my team but also pep them up time and again so that they do their best on the field." "Besides that," Priety says, "I am the one who looks into all the details about meetings, conferences, chalking out agendas and also making it a point to be on the field. I take care of all the minute details. In that sense it is hard work--sheer hard work!" Interestingly, Preity, the boss, prefers the no makeup look when on the field. "I don't want to come like a heroine in the cricket ground", she says laughingly. Obviously Preity Zinta the brand is stronger than Preity the heroine!

Preity Zinta walks on sunshine, wins top award

PREITY ZINTA has all the reasons to be on sun shine for the accolades she has received for her performance in Deepa Mehta’s film, Heaven on Earth. She has been honoured by being awarded the Silver Hugo Award for best actress at the 44th edition of Chicago International Film Festival. In extreme ecstasy, she articulates-“I am walking on sunshine. I can’t believe where I am!”
Indeed, Preity should feel proud for what she has attained. She is only the second Indian actress to have been bestowed such a prestigious award at the Chicago International Film Festival. Noted actress and socialite Shabana Azmi was the first to receive this award. This is the second big recognition for Preity within a year after winning warm reviews at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this year.

This award is the result of a brave decision taken on the part of Preity to explore with new genre of acting. Unlike her stereotype candyfloss roles, Preity decided to take up serious and meaningful roles in movies such as The Last Lear, Heaven on Earth, and Heroes. Her belief in herself and her directors has taken Preity to the next level of acting, and hence accolades are the order of the day.

The jury of Chicago Film Festival praised Preity for her strong yet subtle performance as a woman struggling to keep her dreams despite brutal realities. Preity plays the role of a battered Punjabi wife, who is a victim of domestic violence. She has portrayed the lively character of a woman struggling to keep her dreams intact despite brutal realities she has been subjected to.

Heaven on Earth explores the struggle of an immigrant bride in Canada and the choice she has to make to empower herself away from the abusive relationship in her new home. Priety has lived her character to its fullest portraying the imagination, wit and soul strength of a battered wife trying to keep her sanity and self-esteem intact.

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For her power-packed performance in the film, Preity expressed her gratitude to Anupam Kher for attending his acting school to get her Punjabi right for the role and getting invaluable tips from him.

However, Preity was not present in Chicago, when this announcement was made and she only came to know through her director Deepa Mehta, who was all praise for Preity and described her as ’luminous’ in the film. Deepa said, “It’s amazing, isn’t it? I am so happy for Preity. She’s luminous in Heaven On Earth...just like Shabana Azmi in Fire.”

For now, all we can say is that Preity is proving her mettle in whatever venture she is trying her hands. On business front, she was recently declared by a foreign magazine to be one of the most influential female business personalities of the world- being the owner of IPL, Mohali team. Now, she has proved her credentials in acting on world stage. Congratulations Preity

Preity took inspiration from mom for Heroes

Even as Preity Zinta's character in Samir Karnik's Heroes garners rave reviews it comes as a surprise to know that the role of the brave and dignified war widow is modelled on Preity's mother, Neelu Zinta.

Not only that, once Preity signed on, she worked for days on her character, language and body language with her director Karnik.

Says Preity, "The minute I read the script I knew I wanted to do it. You've no idea how many people discouraged me from doing Heroes. 'Arrey why do you want to play the mother of a growing child?; Tujhko log buddhi kahenge''. But I was adamant. I fell in love with my character. She reminded me of my mother. So many people have told me I look like her, especially in my shaadi ka joda.''

In Heroes, Preity plays a rustic Punjabi woman thrown into a crisis. ''It was easy for me to identify with the Punjabi woman in Heroes whose husband has died in the war. I come from an army background and I know what it is like to lose someone at the battlefront."

Preity unabashedly modelled the war widow's role in Heroes on her own mother. ''I always thought I looked like my father. But as I grow older, I think I've begun to resemble my mom. The other Punjabi woman I play in Heaven On Earth was much harder to play. I had no reference points except my director who held my hand as I suffered with my character for all the physical abuse she has to face."

Preity Zinta, Rani Mukerjee and Priyanka Chopra in "Rab ne bana di Jodi" (Pictures)

A recent report from a newspaper has also reported that Preity Zinta, Priyanka Chopra and Rani Mukerji have been signed to appear in a song with Shah rukh khan in yashraj's upcoming new movie titled "Rab ne bana di Jodi" . The song will be a tribute to yesteryear actors and actresses and has been composed by Salim-Suleiman. However, when Mumbai Mirror contacted a YRF spokesperson, she did not deny the rumours that these actors are on board but did not confirm that they will be doing a song.

Preity Zinta gorgeous in Black Saree !

Stunning Priety Zinta in a black transparent saree at Drona's premiere. As good as it gets, Preity is looking drop dead gorgeous in the black glittering saree as she attends the premiere of Drona. But Priety loved gorgeous at this premiere and proved that she is extremely gorgeous.

Deepa Metha's appraisals for Preity Zinta

Preity Zinta has turned to be the favorite Punjabi-girl of Bollywood. Recently, the actress leaped with laurels as a Punjabi girl in 'Heroes'. Style of articulating dialogues in Punjabi style could fix us adhered to the characterization. And now, it's time to take on with a role with different dimension. Deepa Mehta's recent movie 'Heaven and Earth' was screened at Indo-American Arts Council Film Festival in New York. The film features Preity Zinta as a woman belonging immigrant family in Toronto.

The film's sole theme of domestic violence was so close to everyone's heart and indeed won grand applause for entire team. Precisely, Preity Zinta for her top-notching spell as a distressed woman fetched best credits. So, how come Deepa Mehta zeroed down on Preity while casting actors? "While penning script for Heaven and Earth, I remember I was there in England. As I met Preity Zinta we started discussing about many issues, but not about my film. Out of spark, I could just perceive that she has the ability to perform the role with extreme brightness".

Preity has no marriage plans right now

Bollywood star Preity Zinta is ecstatic after winning the best actress award at the 44th Chicago International Film Festival for playing a battered Punjabi wife in Deepa Mehta's "Heaven On Earth".

She is thankful to Anupam Kher for helping her get the right Punjabi diction for her role. The award was announced on Saturday and will be given on October 29. She has bagged the Silver Hugo Award for Best Actress "for her strong yet subtle performance as a woman struggling to keep her dreams despite brutal realities" in the Feature Film Competition section.

"It was my director Deepa Mehta who informed me on Saturday afternoon that I had won. I couldn't go to Chicago, and neither could Deepa. Without any lobbying I've done it. I am so happy and excited," Preity Zinta told IANS.

"I'm walking on sunshine. I can't believe where I am," added Preity who is also getting rave reviews for her performance in the just-released "Heroes". Preity is immensely thankful to Anupam Kher for her convincing performance in both the films.

"I attended his acting school (Actor Prepares) to get my Punjabi right for both the roles. He taught me how to pronounce the words properly. He has been a blessing." What really pleases Preity is that this international award will help sell "Heaven On Earth" to a global audience.

"It is a film in Punjabi and I felt the language would limit the appeal. But trust Deepa to break the cultural barriers." Preity says she has no marriage plans right now.

"I don't feel the time is right. I'd want to get married only when I want to have children. Right now let me enjoy this moment. Everyone, who thought those dimples needed to shut down now, this one is for you, guys."

Added Mehta: "It's amazing, isn't it? I'm so happy for Preity. She's luminous in 'Heaven On Earth' just like Shabana Azmi in 'Fire'. Coincidentally, Shabana was the other actress to win the best actress award at Chicago. I don't think any other Indian actress has won this award.

"I'm happy Preity is getting rave reviews for 'Heroes'. I've seen bits of her performance in 'Heroes'. And, in fact, it was that performance which reassured me that I had made the right choice for 'Heaven On Earth'."

Preity Zinta declared best actress at Chicago film fest

Preity Zinta, whose performance in Deepa Mehta's Heaven on Earth, received warm reviews at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, has won the Silver Hugo Award for best actress at the 44^thedition of Chicago International Film Festival.

 

The jury praised her 'for her strong yet subtle performance as a woman struggling to keep her dreams despite brutal realities.'

 

The film, which will inaugurate the Mahindra Indo-American Arts Council Film Festival in New York on November 5, is the first film in which Mehta has explored the struggle of an immigrant bride in Canada [Images]and the choice she has to make to empower herself away from the abusive relationship in her new home. Married to an Indian resident inCanada, she has to use her imagination, wit and soul strength to keep her sanity and self-esteem.

• Also Read: The slap Preity Zinta can never forget! 

At Chicago, the Gold Hugo  for the Best Film atChicago was awarded to the British-Irish film depicting an Irish Republican Army's prisoner in the UK who fasted into death. The film also featched for Silver Huge Award for Best Actor for Michael Fassbender for his self-sacrificing performance exemplifying the ideal of "being" rather than "acting."

 

Like Heaven on Earth, Hunger was also screened at the Toronto event.

 

Zinta had said at Toronto that when she is old, she would remember Heaven on Earth as her most accomplished film and the one that is closest to her heart. Though she shies away from darker films, she confessed, she took up Heaven on Earthbecause of the strength her character is endowed in the script. Besides, she had wanted to act in a Mehta film for a long time, she added.

• Also Read: When Preity learned not to fight back! 

Heaven on Earth has Mumbai's Ravi Chopra as one of its producers.

 

The Chicago International Film Festival runs October 16-29; it gives People's Choice Award on its last day. 

 

Zinta will attend the MIAAC Film Festival along with Mehta. The festival is the biggest and most prestigious of Indian film events in America and Canada. The red carpet inauguration event  will also see Shabana Azmi [Images] and Mira Nair, who will be co-chairing it, Salman Rushdie [Images], Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Madhur Jaffrey, Shashi Tharoor, Sooni Taraporevala, Konkana Sen Sharma [Images] and Ketan Mehta.

 

The festival ends on November 9 with Taraporevala's Little Zizou;  the directorial debut ofSalaam Bombay! screenwriter Taraporevala will be presented by  Nair who has worked with her in The Namesake [Images] and Salaam.

 

The MIAAC Film Festival will also host Danny Boyle's Toronto favorite Slumdog Millionaire and screen as a tribute to Chetan Anand his 1946 Cannes [Images] Gran Prix winner Neech Nagar (Lowly City), the first film scored by the sitar maestro Ravi Shankar.

Vansh Bhardwaj slaps Preity Zinta

She's already bagged an award for her power-packed performance as a battered wife in Heaven On Earth, but Bollywood star Preity Zinta says she was humiliated when co-star Vansh Bhardwaj, who plays her abusive husband, slapped her while shooting a scene.

"When we were shooting the film, there was a scene where my co-star had to slap me and, of course, it was a mistake as he took one step forward and actually went smack across my face. It was the most humiliating experience of my life because everyone saw me getting slapped," said Preity.

Preity got the Silver Hugo Award for best actress in the Feature Film Competition section at the 44th Chicago International Film Festival Oct 29.

The mishap on the sets of director Deepa Mehta's film brought Preity closer to reality and made her understand the character better.

"It changed my whole perception towards my role and I realised that it's so terrible to strip a woman of her spirit. It's better to die than to let your spirit die. This film took me to another zone; it just shattered me because I am someone who would immediately stand up for myself," she said.

Known for her chirpy, bubbly and garrulous image in Bollywood, Preity would be seen at the receiving end in Mehta's film, which she says "completely broke" her heart.

She explained: "It was the most difficult film of my career. It's also a film that completely broke my heart. I remember asking a woman, who was a victim of domestic violence and had left her husband, what the turning point in her relationship was and she said, 'I told my husband if you want to beat me, beat me in a room. But don't beat me in front of the family.'

"I could never understand that. Beating someone is bad and it doesn't matter if it's alone or in front of others. It's terrible. I really didn't know what it was to be in a situation like this till I did the film."

Preity has of late been accepting non-commercial projects, including the recently released The Last Lear and Jahnu Barua's Har Pal.

Why the sudden interest in off-beat films?

"I did Heaven On Earth because I thought if a commercial actor like me ventured into something like this, it would provide a broader platform. It was something that really inspired me and I was very excited about. I always played stronger roles so this was a change for me.

"I'm happy that the film will get more eyeballs thanks to the recognition it has got. To me, I'll be ultimately happy if every family will see the film, especially the men," said Preity.

The actress said that while the movie did not have "the trappings of music and song and dance", it was still very close to her heart "because it tackles immigration; it tackles domestic violence - topics that we like to brush under the carpet".

The year so far has brought her much critical acclaim as her performances in both The Last Lear and Heroes were widely appreciated.

The actress added that she would return to her trademark girl-next-door image only if she was offered a role with "substance".

"I will do masala movies for sure, but I would like to have substance in them. I can't do just the glam chick any longer. I've been there, done that. It just doesn't inspire me any more. I have to leave that for the other girls to do. That's the way one grows," she said. Heaven On Earth will have its worldwide commercial release in November end.