'I am a survivor'

ACTING IS what she does, but Preity Zinta is happier being a concerned citizen these days. Ask her which of the two accolades she enjoyed more —being awarded a concerned citizen award or being voted as one of the most beautiful women in India?

"Phew! That's a lot happening, eh? Well, I felt great when I got the award for my work outside cinema. It really did bring a smile to my face. It makes me proud to be recognised as a good citizen. Things did change for me quite a bit after the Tsunami. I almost died there and I lost some of my friends. And yes, facing death changes the way you look at life," says Preity philosophically. However, that was not the first time Preity faced death. In fact, that year began on a very low note for her. "I almost lost my life when I had an accident while skiing. Then, I lost my dog and things just did not fall into place."

But for her, being low doesn't mean that life will take a backseat. "I am a survivor. After every storm you will find me standing tall. The woods are lovely, dark and deep/ I have miles to go before I sleep", she smiles as she quotes Robert Frost.

For Preity, beautiful is the deed she does and not what she looks like. "Yes, we all love compliments. But one must not forget that behind this beautiful face is the hard work of my make-up artist, my hairstylist and a photographer who takes amazing pictures. If people find me beautiful for what I look on the outside, well thanks. But what makes me more happy is when they appreciate my inner beauty," says Preity.

Preity will soon be seen in Deepa Mehta's Heaven On Earth. "It's too early to comment on it. All I can say is that it will take me to another level of acting. And, I give most of the credit to Ritu with whom I did The Last Lear, and Arjun Rampal who pushed me into doing it. I never looked westwards, this just happened by chance." Another thing that recently happened to her by chance was a catfight rumour. "This is bizarre! I heard recently that Bipasha Basu and I are at loggerheads. What's wrong with people? Bipasha is a very sweet girl and very sexy too. Why would we be fighting? I have heard the most bizarre rumours about myself. Once I was told that I had reportedly committed suicide." she says with a hearty laugh.