On Record

Watching Preity Zinta at the press conference for Colors’ new show,Guinness World Records – Ab India Todega,is a little like watching the return of the prodigal. Having absented herself from the entertainment scene for two years,the actress seems very eager to please and gamely tries out a few of the challenges that will feature on the show. “I had such a bad time last year,having been mired in court cases,” she says,referring to the controversies surrounding her IPL team,Kings XI Punjab,and the Kamal Amrohi inheritance case,“I came through well in all the circumstances,but I was in danger of losing my peace of mind and I realised that I needed to get back to entertainment.” That’s when she decided to make her television debut on Guinness World Records.

Although Shabbir Ahluwalia,winner of another Colors’ other show,Khatron Ke Khiladi,is also one of the hosts on the show,it is Zinta who is being pitched as the public face. Ashvini Yardi,programming head of the channel,has a ready response. “Preity’s sense of patriotism and her natural charm will be the guiding factor for all the Indians to do their best and beat every world record thrown in their way,” she says. Niret Alva,co-founder of Miditech,which has adapted the show for India,admits that Bollywood on the small screen has become a cliché,but says,“She’s going to be the show’s connection to the masses.”

Whatever the channel’s reasons for roping in the actress to host the show—be it her special charm or the buzz of publicity her presence will bring —one thing is for certain: it has come as a great break for Zinta herself. “It suits me because I like to do exciting things,” she says. Also the fact that the shoot would wrap up well before the IPL convinced the actress to take on the show. Working on the show was,of course,a great experience. “This is a show about ordinary people,their stories and their extraordinary talents and determination. They were often stunned to see an actor in front of them,but I had to make sure that I didn’t steal their limelight,” she says,candidly.

Post her TV show and the IPL,she will start working her way into movies. “My friends keep bringing me scripts and I think I should find something suitable soon.” She confesses to being a little nervous,though. “I hope I haven’t forgotten how to act,” she exclaims,before bursting into giggles,“No,I’m kidding. No one can forget how to act.”