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These two have a lot in common. And we aren’t talking about the love they share. Preity Zinta and her business tycoon boyfriend, Ness Wadia are both fitness freaks. They love playing outdoor sports and watching it as well. And apparently, now they have a common fitness trainer too. The same guy trains both Preity and Ness at the gym, and he’s definitely doing a great job - one can’t spot an inch of extra flab on this gorgeous couple. No wonder, their relationship is ’shaping’ up brilliantly too!

Rumour has it that you will be getting married to your boyfriend Ness Wadia at the end of this year. Is it true?
Get me those people who are spreading these rumours, I want to whack them. (Laughs) There are so many actresses, why don’t people talk about them? I don’t know why they are after me and my marriage.

Do you think you’ll make a good housewife?
What do you mean? Of course I will. I invest 100 per cent in anything I do, and I excel in it. Today, I think I am a very good actor because I have made the effort, and it’s going to be the same with other aspects of my life.

Do you believe in traditional ceremonies like karva chauth?
My mother used to observe karva chauth for my dad. I too observed it once when I was just nine years old. My mother tried to stop me from fasting, but I was very excited about the fact that you can eat something sweet at 5:30 in the morning and then you don’t eat or drink for the rest of the day. Well, I fainted at 7:30 in the evening. After that, I told myself, ‘never again!’

How committed are you in your relationship with Ness Wadia?
That’s too personal a question. I know that if I answer this question, it will make headlines… Jokes apart, I am not sixteen. I am too old to be frivolous; to make mistakes and then learn from them. I have already gone through all those phases in my life. I am mature now, and there is a deep and stable side to me; whatever I do, I look before I leap.

So do you see yourself married?
I think marriage is the most beautiful institution in the world. Unfortunately a lot of people have started regarding it as a matter of convenience. But to me, marriage is forever… I want it to be the way it is with my parents. It’s a secure and wonderful feeling for kids to grow up in a marriage like that. I have seen students who have come from broken marriages, in boarding schools, and I could sense that they missed the togetherness and security of a happy family life. That’s why I believe that I am the product of the relationship between my parents. And I want that kind of security in my family, my marriage and in my children too.

How open are you about your personal life?
I am actually honest, but I think certain sections of the media have taken my honesty to a different level altogether. They make me feel like I shouldn’t be so honest and make such candid comments about my personal life. Maybe I should just repeat clichéd lines like ‘No Comments’, and ‘We are just friends’! When I openly admit that I am dating so-and-so, the media predicts a wedding date. I think people are taking too many liberties with me, and it has started upsetting me. I have always been graceful about my personal life, and I think I deserve to be treated better by the media. I am bored of talking about the same old thing (my relationship with Ness). I have eight years of my career to talk about. Just because I am dating him, it should not become the focal point of all my interviews. All I want to say that I am very happy with the person I am today… and the person I am with.

The promos of your forthcoming film, Kabhie Alvida Na Kehna, bear an uncanny resemblance with Nikhil Advani’s Kal Ho Na Ho. Not similar storylines too, we hope
Well, both the films have been shot in London. But as far as treatment, subject and script are concerned, the films are as different as chalk and cheese.

Were you rattled by Rani Mukherji’s presence in Kabhie Alvida Na Kehna?
No, not at all. I think it’s always good to work with a better actor because that sets the bar higher – you do better work, you are better prepared and always on your toes. I think eventually the film becomes better too. When you are cast with bad actors the bar drops. You may be good, but low standards make you worse. Rani is probably going to make me look good in the film and I’m sure I will have the same effect on her performance. Rani and I have, through the years, made many films together, and they’ve all been blockbusters. So I tease her saying ‘Let people say what they want to about us, we make a good pair’. The way Shah Rukh has Kajol, I have Rani. (Smiles) I enjoy working with her.

What do you think about your other co-stars – Shah Rukh and Abhishek?
Shah Rukh has been around for long and Abhishek is new. Abhishek is a typical Aquarian like me, and Shah Rukh is a typical Scorpion – he is much more intense. Abhishek talks more than I do, and that disappoints me. Jokes apart, Abhishek is someone who backslaps you and has fun with you. He is wild, little crazy. He is also a tremendous performer. In Koffee with Karan I called Abhishek sweet, and Saif asked me how I could call him that. So I don’t call him sweet anymore. But I share a different equation with Shah Rukh who was already a big star when I entered this industry. Shah Rukh has achieved too much and it’s unfair to compare the two.

You may just create a new record of working with debutant directors. It’s Farah Khan’s husband, Shirish Kunder, in Jaaneman this time. How was the experience of shooting with him?
He is a man of few words. But he has sound knowledge about what he is doing. I am happy to be working with him in his first film. I am sure he’ll make many films in the future, but that first film is always special. He is very particular about his scenes, like I am. I used to chew his brain with innumerable questions before giving a shot. But we never had a difference of opinion. Jaaneman will surprise a lot of people. It’s always better to work with a debutant director. They want to do everything in that first film; they want the moon, the sun and the stars …

You’ll be working with your first screen hero, Bobby Deol, after so many years, in Shaad Ali’s Jhoom Barabar Jhoom. Are you looking forward to it?
I am very excited to be finally working with Bobby after Soldier. He is a fantastic actor and a very good friend. It’s strange that although Dharamji and Amitji have made so many hit films together, Abhishek and Bobby have yet to make their first collaborative film. I am sure that Jhoom Barabar Jhoom will help continue the tradition of the Deols and Bachchans.

Me, the tomboy:
I did my schooling from Convent of Jesus and Mary at Shimla. I was a pukka tomboy with short hair and a sports’ freak to boot. If you have two brothers, you tend to forget that you are a girl. I share a great equation with both of them. I studied in a boarding and whenever I would come home for vacations, the first few days would pass hugging each other. Soon, all the love would vanish and our wars would start. But, as the daughter of the house, I was always given the benefit of doubt by mom, and my brothers would be punished. My father was in the Army and the family was always travelling. But I didn’t regret spending time away from them because I had a perfect set of friends. Shagun, my buddy from school, still remains my best friend. She was the feminine counterpart to my tomboy.

The poet in me:
After completing school, I took admission in St Bede’s College in Shimla and opted for English Honours, for I loved Shakespeare and poetry. I even tried my hand at some poetry, but soon realised what I wrote was rubbish. So I put all my literary pursuits in a drawer, and gave up the idea of ever becoming a poet.

Ad-vantage:
My first ad for Perk chocolates happened purely by chance. I was at a friend’s birthday party where I met Kunal, an ad filmmaker. Two days later, he called me saying that he had written an ad script keeping me in mind. He forced me to come for auditions. Although I was apprehensive, I thought what harm could come from just auditioning - there would be five people there and why would anybody pick me? Only, instead of five, there were 50, and I got selected after saying just two lines with the chocolate in hand.

No filmi aspirations:
When I was offered my first movie, I was clueless about the industry. My friends used to joke that they will soon see me dancing in a white saree in the rain. So, from the start, I decided that I will never do that. I remember when we were shooting for Kya Kehna in Switzerland, I suddenly realised acting was a bad idea. I told my director Kundan Shah that I wanted to go back home and not do this movie. Of course, I was told off in no unclear terms. Kundan said, ‘What do you mean you want to go home? You have signed a contract with us, now you can’t go back!’ I went to the hotel balcony and cried for hours. Then he came to me and said that I could do a good job and I should not give it up so soon. That pep talk sure helped.

Link-ups, gossip and me:
When you are a star, you have to compromise on your privacy, because the media does not give up. I never react to any of the rumours because I don’t give them any importance. However, I took a Mumbai tabloid to court over the Salman Khan tape controversy because they had crossed the line. I didn’t want to live the rest of my life thinking, ‘What if I would have spoken out then’. I want to live my life with dignity and pride. I stood up for truth in the Bharat Shah case too for I have been brought up that way.

Oye Bubbly!
This nametag I have given to Rani after Bunty aur Babli. Yes, I am an extrovert and that is why people call me this. But, I also have this very intense person within me, my mature side. In fact, now when people meet Preity Zinta, they will meet a very intense and mature PZ.

The Siamese twins:
I have said repeatedly that Rani and I are not the best of friends. But yes, we have given hit films together. Rani is a very sensible and a very talented actress. I love having her as my co-star. I always tell her that our jodi is something like Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol. But personally, we are like chalk and cheese, not the best of friends. I have never been to her house, neither had she come to mine. We’ve never gone for parties together. It is the media which built up our Siamese twins image. Even now, we share the same equation, but now the media wants to portray us as enemies!

The million-dollar question:
Most people treat the topic of Ness Wadia as a million-dollar question, but I am going to make it worth one dollar. I don’t like talking about my personal life. What I can say is that I am very happy and content with my personal and professional life.

Yes, Prime Minister:
If I would not have become an actress then I would have been the Prime Minister of this country. Would be fundu na? Jokes apart, life is still the same even after becoming a movie star. Shagun is still my best friend, I still love to fight with my brothers and I am also working with Rani in my forthcoming movie.

Talk to Preity Zinta about any subject and she can wax eloquent without stopping for hours. But there’s one thing that can keep the actor silent, her next film, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna. Preity finds it extremely difficult to even listen to any conversation about the film, lest she reveal something about the film which director Karan Johar is keeping under wraps. “If Karan is saying anything, let him. If I say anything, I may inadvertently divulge details and later get whacked by him,” she smiles. “Karan’s film is not out of nowhere. It’s a film that reflects the society we live in. It’s a different take on relationships. And interestingly, this film will certainly generate a lot of discussion,” says Preity.

Like all star-studded events, this year’s IIFA Awards in Dubai too has lots of gossip. After the reported shabby treatment given to the models, it seems Bollywood too got a dose of it. According to a source, “Preity Zinta didn’t get a proper make-up room though she was performing. Furious, she threw a big fit.” But there was no other room empty, which only made the usually vivacious Zinta turn volatile and have the organisers reach for the panic button. Before things got out of control, apparently brand ambassador Amitabh Bachchan came to rescue indirectly, if not directly. “As there was no other option, Preity was given Mr. Bachchan’s room,” says our source. When contacted, Sabbas of Wizcraft said, “Nothing like this happened.” But as we say, there’s no smoke without fire!

The Girgaum court on Tuesday witnessed a drama of sorts when an agitated Preity Zinta aired her grievances. Zinta was in court for the hearing of a defamation case she had filed against a citybased tabloid. The actress stood for almost 45 minutes in the witness box telling the court how she religiously came for every hearing only to hear that the case had been adjourned to a further date. She said that she had to cancel her shoot several times for this. She also said that if this continued the case would go on even after she got married and had children.

The tabloid in question had published the transcript of a conversation between Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai in which Salman had used abusive language and innuendo while speaking about Zinta. However, after reports from the Chandigarh lab proved that the tape had been doctored, Zinta filed a defamation case against the tabloid.

In court, she demanded an apology and compensation from the tabloid. She also said that this would caution people in future to clarify things before publishing defamatory articles. Throughout the outburst, the court listened patiently and carefully observed Zinta’s contention. However, the case was adjourned to July 11 after the editor at the time the transcript was published failed to appear even though executive editor of the tabloid and two other employees were present.

“I just can’t let this happen,” Zinta declared once she came out of court. “I am happy that the court has issued non-bailable warrants against the managing director and the editor of the paper. I am happy that the case is taking a positive direction and am sure that I will get justice soon,” she added.

So is Preity against the media? “My fight is not with the media. I know that stars and the media exist like a railway track. But I am a woman and I just can’t allow anyone to write rubbish about me. I am living in a male-dominated society and it is very important for me to clear the controversy. I have always held my head high and I want to quit this industry with a clean image. I want the publication to accept its fault and give an article stating that the tape transcript was untrue. I am fighting for my dignity here,” she said.

Preity Zinta has returned to Mumbai to complete Sajid Khan’s Jaane-Man and Karan Johar’s Kabhi Alvidaa Na Kehna (KANK). Those who have seen her in KANK have declared Preity a winner in a role that entails her to go for a complete makeover. “Yes,” says Preity. “Shah Rukh’s wife Gauri and Jaya (Bachchan) aunty think highly of me in the film. It felt good to be wearing clothes that sometimes cost more than the location,” she adds. Speaking about her character she says, “People are commenting on my look. But that was the least of my worries. I had to play a woman who didn’t seem to airdrop into New York from Mumbai. My character Rhea has to blend into the milieu, and not just in dress but demeanour. It was tough.”

Preity Zinta is known to spring surprises on others. But this time the actor surprised herself when she made a flash decision to perform at the International Indian Film Academy awards in Dubai. “I will be performing there to Shiamak Davar’s choreography. I am yet to sit and finalise my item with him,” says Preity. “This is the first time that I will be performing at such a short notice. I haven’t even started rehearsing.”

After IIFA, Preity returns to Mumbai to complete Sajid Khan’s delayed Jaan-e-Man and Karan Johar’s Kabhi Alvidaa Na Kehna, a role which she has garnered praise for. “People, whose opinion matter to me are happy with my work. I must confess that it felt good to be wearing clothes that cost more than the location. But seriously, I couldn’t have done it without Karan or Manish Malhotra,” she says. “There’s one sequence with Rani with Abhishek which made me cry. Normally, I do not cry at the movies. I like to keep it to myself. Only my family and close friends have seen my vulnerable side.” Preity has also featured on the cover of an international women’s magazine. “I guess the bubbly, perky Preity has taken a backseat for the time being. The magazine had a ‘let-me-be-me’ campaign for Indian women. The inaugural cover was supposed to represent the fun and feisty face of the Indian woman. I liked the fact that I fitted into that slot.” The days ahead will spell relief for Preity. “This will be my longest stay at home in recent times. I’m enjoying every bit of it,” she says.

Forget Cannes, that’s purana stuff now. And if Preity Zinta’s emerged more radiant after the Riviera trip, it’s for two reasons. Our sleuths report that there was a gora..an European..who was majorly fida over Preity Zinta at Cannes. But our girl’s heart beats for the one and only Ness Wadia. Now if he had jetted across the seas to bring in her birthday in New York, the twosome brought in Ness’s on May 31. Where? Where? It’s guesstimated that they were in exotic Istanbul. How rocking, no?