Preity Zinta is at a crossroads. Her screen career is only four years old and she can still pass off as a college girl. No wonder she has been cornering most big ticket films in recent times, films that were hitherto reserved for Kareena Kapoor and Amisha Patel. "This shows I can hold my own against the younger breed," she preens.

But there is one person, none other than scriptwriter Honey Irani, who wants to dispel Preity`s bubbly girl image and present her as a matured woman on screen. It all started with Farhan Akhtar, who cast her in his debut film, Dil Chahta Hai, and would have signed her again for his next had his mother, Honey, who is the unofficial casting director for her beta`s films, not put her foot down.

More prodding revealed a complicated plot. Honey is planning to debut as a director with a mature love story featuring Tabu, Preity Zinta and Amitabh Bachchan and wants the bubbly young actress to graduate beyond "bubblegum romances". Honey obviously wants her audience to be prepared for Zinta`s "unexplored talent." You decide for yourself, Preity. Is it the Number One slot that you are aspiring for or do you seriously want to be known as a good, sensitive actress who loves a challenge on screen?