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
