“Delhi is always fun. I didn’t grow up in Delhi. I grew up in Shimla, but I used to come here a lot. It’s been a part of my childhood, some of the most mad times of my life. It’s always nice to be back,” says Preity Zinta.Back in Delhi, the actor addressed a packed auditorium at Hindu College on Wednesday. From joking with students as they shot a variety of questions at her to reflecting on her nostalgia-inducing films, Preity’s day out in North Campus was filled with light-hearted moments and lessons for Gen Z.
The actor distributed T-shirts among students
‘Love can only sustain beyond a year or two if there’s respect’One of Preity’s most iconic films, Dil Chahta Hai (2001), recently completed 25 years. Preity, who played Shalini in the cult classic, said, “If Dil Chahta Hai was made in 2026, the friendship, camaraderie and madness would remain exactly the same. And how uncertain life is because you’re in a bubble and life changes and things become different. I don’t think the characters would remain the same because the scene where Aamir’s character gets punched would have become a meme! That would follow his character everywhere!”Speaking on the subject of love, Preity, who’s played many roles where love was the driving force like Veer-Zaara (2004) and Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003), said, “Love can only sustain beyond a year or two if there’s respect. So if you can respect each other, then time will never come between you. Every time period is different. But love will never really sustain unless there’s respect in it. I’m telling you this in 2026. My grandmother let me in on this as I asked her, ‘How do you guys stay connected for 60-70 years?’ And she said, ‘it’s all about respect.’ The movie Kya Kehna (2000) also talks about this.”
Preity danced to Pretty Woman (Kal Ho Naa Ho) with Hindu College students
‘Cricket mein mera sabse favourite moment abhi tak aaya nahi hai’Preity, of course, has also spent over a decade being a big cricket fan. Recalling how Yuvraj Singh actually taught her the game, she shared, “He taught me cricket because we had an owners’ match and I told him ‘Yuvi, can you teach me how to bat?’ and he went ‘You want to know how to bat?’ I was like this is the owners’ match and I don’t want to be the girl in the cricket field where they say ‘Oh she’s batting like a girl.’ I want to hit a four. And so I practised for almost two weeks. My shoulder was all swollen because I wanted to hit a four and I didn’t end up hitting a four, but I’m always team Yuvraj Singh!”When asked about her IPL team’s best moment, she smiled and said, “Mera sabse favourite moment, darling, abhi tak aaya nahi hai! It would be lifting the cup, to be honest. I’m still waiting.” She also spoke with pride about nurturing young players who go on to represent India. “Arshdeep (Singh) started with us, we nurtured him, we had him for a couple of years, and I feel so proud to see him now performing for India. He’s among the top bowlers in the world right now. That’s why I say, aisa desh hai mera! There’s so much talent in India.”
The actor clicked selfies with students on stage after the event
‘I had never really lived in Mumbai, and I made it here’The eternal optimist, as she called herself, ended on a realistic note and said, “I want to tell the women out there: life is not fair. For all of you, life is not fair, but for women, it’s tougher. So it’s very important that you accept that. If you keep that in mind, you will know that whatever happens, there’s somebody like me. I came from a small town, Shimla, in the mountains. I had never really lived in Mumbai, and I made it here. So, if you work hard andyou never give up, and you have a great attitude and faith in yourself, there’s nothing that you cannot achieve.”‘Education can change your life and your future’Talking about her social work that helps orphans, Preity said, “Success is not measured by what you buy for yourself. It’s about how you can make a difference. To me, education is that one thing that can change your life, and of your family and your future. Serious sawal ka serious jawab dena padega! We will have some fun later.”
Students lined up to get Preity’s autograph as the actor made her way through the corridors
