Rani or Preity?

Circle of Friends: She’s a buddy’s buddy. Close pals include Suzanne and Hrithik Roshan, Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan and Saif Ali Khan. Says Johar, ‘‘Preity is a party person. She knows how to enjoy life.’’ 7/10

Look Again: Zinta is extremely conscious about her look. She says, ‘‘I get bored looking the same, so I have to change my look in every film. I shoot my own look on a camcorder and then show it to the director.’’ Mickey Contractor, her stylist for Kal Ho Naa Ho, recalls having many lengthy discussions with her. ‘‘Preity is interested in looking good and asks a lot of questions.’’ Contractor says she looks best with minimal make-up. 9/10

My Style: Zinta likes to project the young look and is more comfortable in western outfits. 7/10

Weighty Issues: Her chubby cheeks played their part in the cute label. But not any more. Zinta has discovered the gym with a vengeance. Says fashion photographer Daboo Ratnani, ‘‘Preity always works out before a photo shoot and has only one request: That she should look slim in the picture.’’ 5/10

Co-Star Chemistry: Zinta’s most comfortable with Hrithik Roshan with whom she has paired in Mission Kashmir, Koi…Mil Gaya and Lakshya. Says Roshan, ‘‘I admire Preity for her positive attitude. She never loses her cool whatever I might say. I think the audience has accepted us well.’’ 5/10

Coming Up: Zinta’s line-up includes Farhan Akhtar’s Lakshya, Yash Chopra’s untitled venture with Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukerji, Atul Agnihotri’s Dil Ne Jisse Apna Kaha opposite Salman Khan and the Shekhar Kapur-produced and Vishal Bhardwaj-directed fantasy flick Mantra. Kapur, who was the first one to spot her, says, ‘‘The energy she exuded in front of the camera was out of the ordinary. I knew then that she had a potential spark which she has used well by making all the right choices.’’ 6/10

Box-Office Buzz: Better than many. ‘‘After Koi…Mil Gaya and Kal Ho Naa Ho, Preity has an edge over all the other heroines. I can’t say whether a film like Mantra can sell on her name but if the entire package is good and well known names are attached then who knows,’’ says Komal Nahta, editor of trade guide Film Information. 8/10

The Eyes Have It
By Default: She was a regular college girl, content being known as Kajol’s cousin. Until the day film-maker Salim offered her a chance to play heroine. Rani Mukerji’s debut was not a syrupy love story but the rather unconventional role of a rape victim, across Amjad Khan’s son Shadaab in Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat. The film didn’t work but Mukerji did. Then came the cult classic Aati Kya Khandala (Ghulam) in 1998. 6/10

Modus Operandi: Mukerji is a traditionalist. ‘‘I go for a role instinctively, I don’t want to be mechanical. I want to do good and sincere work and also want time for my family,’’ says Mukerji. Hits and flops don’t matter much; she is in it for the relationships. ‘‘I’ve never measured the length of a role. I am as kicked about a guest appearance in Karan’s film as I am about Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Black,’’ she adds. 8/10

Circle of Friends: Though she likes to believe that ‘‘whoever I am working with is my friend,’’ close pals include Karan Johar, Aditya Chopra, Bela Segal, Shaad Ali, Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and Bhansali. ‘‘Rani is an introvert and likes to meet her friends one-on-one over dinner rather than at a party,’’ reveals Johar. 8/10

Look Again: Not too long ago Mukerji was panned for her make-up, hair, the works. ‘‘When I entered the industry I was in my teens,’’ she explains. ‘‘I had no idea what to expect. Now I realise I can’t take myself lightly.’’ Post Saathiya and Chalte Chalte, however, Mukerji has become a reluctant fashionista. Contractor, her stylist for Chalte Chalte, says, ‘‘Rani is honest enough to admit that she doesn’t know much about styling, so she leaves everything to me.’’ Contractor’s style tip for her: Dark eyes and pale mouth. 7/10

My Style: Mukerji usually pairs heavy silks with traditional jewellery. 7/10

Weighty Issues: She has fought her battles with thunder thighs and the tyres on her tummy. But now she swears by regular exercise. ‘‘I don’t have a trainer but I do work out. I think it’s more important to be healthy than to be toned. I am happy with the way I look now, a Bengali can’t go any further,’’ she admits with a twinkle. 5/10

Co-Star Chemistry: She works best with Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan. Says Aziz Mirza who directed her with Shah Rukh in Chalte Chalte, ‘‘Rani is intuitive, she’s a natural actor. Shah Rukh and she work on their scenes, she listens to him when he wants to do a particular scene in a particular way. They look good together because they give the scene all they have.’’ 9/10

Coming Up: Mukerji’s impressive kitty includes the Yash Chopra production Hum Tum, Mani Ratnam’s Yuva, Bhansali’s Black and Bajirao Mastani, Ketan Mehta’s The Rising, Yash Chopra’s untitled venture with Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta and Shaad Ali’s forthcoming film. Her role of a blind-mute girl in Bhansali’s Black is her most challenging to date. ‘‘This role will take everything from me. This will be it,’’ says an emotional Mukerji. Bhansali has reportedly said, ‘‘Rani has been living her role for a year now and nobody except she could have done this complex role.’’ 9/10

Box-Office Buzz: Good. ‘‘Normally heroines don’t have much box-office clout,” says Nahta. “Rani is among those who do. She has a definite fan following.’’ 7/10

The Result

Preity: 62
Bollywood’s most famous dimple takes time out to smell the roses. Good girl. But unfortunately for her, the fewer the releases, the lesser the buzz. Unless, of course, you are Aamir Khan and make it to the big O night. Save Yash Chopra’s biggie, Zinta’s current account is a little thanda. One or two more like these and Zinta will be at the top again.

Rani: 66
Just refer to her coming-up kitty and you’ll know why 2004 belongs to her. Everyone wants to work with Miss Congeniality. But she needs to become more conscious about her look. Stick to Manish Malhotra and Sabyasachi Mukherjee (the latter is designing for Black and Bajirao Mastani) and give bro Raja the slip.