"No... not again," said Preity as she landed in India after holidaying in Italy. Actually the dimpled lass was
talking about the 48-second clip, allegedly shot from the keyhole of the bathroom door, showing a Preity Zinta
look-alike completely nude taking shower bath in a hotel bathroom.
According to her, she had personally checked the clip and was shocked to see the resemblance with the lady but the truth is it is just as fake as Mallika clip.
"She is taller than me, has tan marks and her hair is cut short and in steps," she clarifies.
Preity also came to know about Salman Khan tapes at the same time.
Preity says she lost her phone while on holiday, and "forget any member of the press, I haven't been able to
connect (even) with my family... I have no clue about what is happening here".
She says her brother has since briefed her about Salman's taped conversations in which she figures but she
doesn't want to say anything more now.
Preity was allegedly referred to in the most unsavoury language in the tapes, which also refer to Salman's
connections with the underworld.
"I really don't know about what's happening down here. But my brother has scared me. He said 'we need to sit
down and talk about the situation'. I really can't say anything about the situation until I'm totally apprised of
it...
"But I will say one thing. Every time I'm out of Mumbai some big trouble or the other happens. I guess I need
to be in Mumbai for longer periods."
Preity says she'll speak about the subject very shortly.
She says because of her phone getting lost, she wasn't connected with anyone. "I lost my phone and was
completely out of touch with everyone back home. I've no clue about what's happening here.
"All I know is I landed here in Mumbai and I came to know that I had became an aunt... Yes, my brother Inder
has become a father and I'm very, very excited!
"Not even my mom could call me. I lost all my numbers. But in a way I'm glad. Considering what awaited me
back home," she added with a mischievous chuckle.
Will the tapes affect her presence in a film that also stars the actor?
Rumours have been abounding that the leading lady had backed out after the Salman tapes. The first spell of
shooting for Shirish Kunder's directorial debut was cancelled... and then the set was finally
dismantled.
The film's other leading man Akshay Kumar shot solo shots and then moved on to Raj Kanwar's new film with
Bipasha Basu and Katrina Kaif. Akshay will be shooting for Kanwar's film in Canada now. He then moves to
the US for Kunder's "Jaan-e-Man".
So will Preity join the "Jaan-e-Man" team in New York when shooting resumes or will the crew have to look for
another leading lady?
Says a very close friend of Preity: "Either way no one can blame her. If she decides not to do the film it would
be perfectly understandable after what Khan is heard saying on the tapes.
"On the other hand if she decides to stay on it would just demonstrate her high level of professionalism. One
thing is for sure. It isn't easy to catch Preity cheating on matters of principle and professionalism."
Tuesday, August 02, 2005 15:52 IST