'I am fed up with yellow journalism'

Article Updated 18 October, 2005 12:10:22 PM IST

'I am fed up with yellow journalism' - Preity Zinta

Lately, PREITY ZINTA has been in the news for the wrong reasons- Salman tapes, crank callers, et al. In an interview with VICKEY LALWANI, she clears the air:

Since the Salman tapes hit the headlines, how have you been dealing with all these controversies?
I am fed up with yellow journalism. Earlier, news used to be so authentic. Today, it's who hits first even if it's not true. Papers write 'according to reliable sources', but these are the sources that are most 'unreliable'. In fact the gossip magazines have gone out of business as frontline newspapers are taking them over. I hope that it reaches a point where it has to stop. Do these papers realize the consequences their s*** has on our well-being? The exercise of denials that follows subsequently to other papers is physically and mentally draining.

After the Salman tapes broke out in papers, it was said that you were not sure whether to work with him in Sajid Nadiadwala's forthcoming 'Jaaneman'?
False. I was never in two minds. 'Jaaneman' is a lovely film and I am doing it. Some rubbish has come in some paper and it has become national headlines. There is not an iota of truth in it.

Is there any truth in the news that you called Aishwarya Rai asking her if Salman had said all that?
I don't care what the rumour mongers say. The rumours will go on and on. There is no truth in it. How many people will believe me if I say 'No'? I am fed up.

You seem to have been receiving a lot of crank calls?
Yeah. I don't know who these people were, calling me in the middle of the night. It has been terrible. But I think the Mumbai cops did a fabulous job.

What were the boys saying when they called you?
Forget all that. It was all crap. But fame comes with its fair share of cons? I don't mind paying a price and I enjoy being a celebrity. I know the flip side of it. But now I think it is getting too much. Why are these papers not writing rubbish about people from other walks of life that are famous? Why only actors and why are all the women being targeted in the MMS? Just because we sell and others don't? Isn't it unfair? What right has anybody got to get so desperate?

What about the news that you have now broken up with Ness Wadia?
I don't like talking about my personal affairs.

You did two Yash Raj films back to back. How was the experience?
For me, 'Salaam Namaste' was something that I hadn't attempted before. I want each of my films to be completely different from each other. I did 'Veer Zaara' too because it was different from my recent crop of 'Lakshya', 'Kal Ho Na Ho' and 'Koi Mil Gaya'. It was a huge high for me to play the character in Veer Zaara in particular, as being in a Yash Chopra film directed by him is an absolute high.

You are doing very few films these days?
I have always been choosy. I don't know why everyone feels that I have suddenly stopped doing more films. I have never signed a film for a lark. I see the banner and the script. That's why I have survived so long. If I wanted, I could have done at least twice the films I have done.

What about Rakesh Roshan's film 'Krrish'?
I was always a part of the film and I feel wonderful. Mark my words; 'Krrish' will fare even better than 'Koi Mil Gaya'.

You have expressed your desire to take charge to clean Mumbai?
Yes. I am extremely disturbed over the garbage that is flooded on the Mumbai streets. It is the main reason why Mumbai has so many diseases, some of which are inexplicable. Let's see how it goes. I hope we can all think this way and make a difference.

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