It has been over two decades since the strains of the violin and the sight of falling maple leaves defined a generation of romance. A part of that beautiful film was Preeti Jhangiani, who played the pretty, soft-spoken Kiran. Today, Preeti is far from just the sweet girl in a salwar suit. She is a powerhouse entrepreneur, a producer, and a pioneer in the Indian arm-wrestling circuit.

In an exclusive chat with Filmfare, Preeti looks back at the Yashraj School of Filmmaking, her experiences with South Indian superstars, and why she never actually took a break from the industry.

The Magic of Mohabbatein and the SRK Lesson

Celebrating 25 years of Mohabbatein, Preeti feels uplifted rather than pigeonholed by her debut role. She said, “I think I’m one of the fortunate few to have got a film that people still remember and watch after 25 years.”

Recalling the rigorous training under Aditya Chopra, she reveals that the Yashraj School of Filmmaking was no myth. From 5 a.m. Kathak sessions to theatre training with Barry John, the preparation was intense. It was during this time that she received a golden piece of advice from Shah Rukh Khan.

She shared, “I was very conscious because I have a deep, non-singing voice. I wasn’t getting a shot right, and Shah Rukh came up to me and said, ‘Preeti, you have to really actually sing the song, because if you don’t, the camera is going to catch the lie.’ I sang it, I felt it, and the shot was immediately okayed.”

Breaking the Sweet Girl Image

While many actresses of the 2000s felt stifled by one-dimensional roles, Preeti views her journey differently. Despite her girl-next-door image, she grew up in a modern Mumbai household. She laughed as she revealed, “I didn’t even own a salwar suit until I did the Chhuimui music video.”

While she admits to being offered sweet or sad characters post-Mohabbatein, she eventually found her groove in OTT with the series Kafas. She shared, “The acting of the 2000s was slightly loud. In Kafas, Sahil Sanga really had to reign me in to make the performance natural and real.”

Mastering the South Industry and the Business of Sports

Before her Bollywood debut, Preeti was already working with stalwarts like Pawan Kalyan and Balakrishna. She recalls being in awe of Pawan Kalyan’s dedication: She shared, “He was the captain of the ship. He was doing stunts himself. like having a car run over his fingers and looking into everyone’s costumes. That fire is what I learned from him.”

Today, that same fire is directed toward the Pro Panja League, which she co-founded with husband Parvin Dabas. From being an actress to a full-time accountant and sports administrator, Preeti also acts as the Vice President of the Asian Arm-wrestling Federation. She mentioned, “Being an entrepreneur means doing everything yourself first. People think you have to be a crazy woman leader to get work done, but you can be soft and still be successful.”

What’s Next?

With Season 3 of the Pro Panja League on the horizon and a trip to Uzbekistan to lead Team India for the World Cup, Preeti’s calendar is packed. As for the big screen, she signed off by saying, “Once an actor, always an actor. I’m reading a lot of scripts right now.”

Also Read: Shah Rukh Khan talks about working with Amitabh Bachchan

Anil Ravipudi is presently basking in the glory of the blockbuster success of Mana Shankar Vara Prasad Garu. The Chiranjeevi-starrer emerged as the winner among other Sankranti releases. With festive season being over and the collections witnessing a dip, the spotlight has turned on the hotshot director’s next film.

‘Glad my films are being remade’

Although Anil Ravipudi has not announced his next film, buzz is that the director will work with Venkatesh and Rana Daggubati together. Speaking to the press at a filmy event, Anil said that he will announce his next film in two weeks. The director also clarified that he is presently working on the script and shall announce the lead actor soon. “It has a quirky and crazy title and it’ll be a talking point.” Anil’s last year directorial Sankranthi Vasthunnam turned out to be a blockbuster. Akshay Kumar is headlining the family drama in the Hindi version. While the director expressed gladness that his films are being remade in other languages, he wasn’t keen to direct them. Apparently, he was approached to helm the remake versions of Bhagavanth Kesari and Sankranthiki Vasthunnam but he had turned them down.

‘Excited about doing a film with Pawan Kalyan garu’

When asked about his excitement levels of working with Pawan Kalyan, Anil sounded assertive. “I have not met Pawan Kalyan garu personally yet, but I am very excited about doing a film with him. He is extremely busy as the Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and has many responsibilities. But I’d be happy if our combination happens someday.” Reflecting on Mana Shankar Vara Prasad Garu’s success, the director revealed that he wanted to tap Chiranjeevi’s natural comic timing. “I always believed if we can present and bring out the comedy sense in the right way we can be successful. Today, audiences of all age groups are enjoying the film.

Also Read:Prabhas Eyes Box Office Comeback With Fauji; Can He Recreate The Magic Like His Peers?

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