Preity Zinta: Reading Partition Stories Was Heartbreaking

After a long break from films, Preity Zinta returns with Batwara-1947, a period film set against the backdrop of Partition. She talks about what brought her back to cinema, researching the period, balancing motherhood with the demands of a film shoot and how playing a woman from 1947 made her look differently at the freedoms women have today.

Did playing a Partition-era character bring a sense of responsibility?

What touched me the most was reading about real families who believed they were leaving home only temporarily. Many buried their jewellery and valuables, thinking they would return within a few days once the situation improved. They never imagined they would lose everything forever. Reading these stories was heartbreaking. Since this is my first period film, I spent time researching and understanding that era.

Preity, after such a long break from films, why did you choose this project?

I was enjoying my personal life, focusing on my family and raising my children. Professionally, I had always wanted to work with Raj ji and also wanted to do a period film. When I read this script, I felt that despite the darkness of Partition, the story carried hope and humanity. That emotional core convinced me to come back.

How do you define stardom today?

Earlier, audiences identified actors with the characters they played. Today, because of social media, people know everything about actors, their daily lives, what they eat, what they wear. That mystery has disappeared. Also, films are no longer the only source of entertainment. People now have countless options. For a film to bring audiences to theatres, it has to offer a truly cinematic experience. Even today, many people still call me by my character names like Naina or Zara, and that shows how deeply those films connected with audiences.

Did returning to films after becoming a mother feel different?

Very much. Life has changed completely. I am now a mother and a homemaker, so I brought a different perspective to this role. The shoot was intense rather than easy or fun. My kids were only two years old, so balancing motherhood with long shooting schedules starting at 6 a.m. wasn't simple. But we completed almost the entire film in a single schedule of about two months.

The film is releasing during the month of Independence Day. What does freedom mean to you, especially as a woman?

Working on this film made me realise how fortunate we are to live in today's India. I have always romanticised the idea of living in another era, but while shooting I constantly had to remind myself that the story was set in 1947. Whenever I suggested something, my character could do, Raj ji would say, "No, Preity, women didn't have that freedom then. They cooked, stitched, managed the home and followed social norms."

That experience gave me a new perspective. Today, women have opportunities our grandmothers never had. We can build careers, run businesses, choose our partners, travel, raise families and still return to work whenever we want. We often complain about life, but this film reminded me how privileged we are. I am incredibly grateful to have been born in this country and in this era, where women have so many choices and freedoms.

Did portraying a woman from that era change your perspective?

Absolutely. The only time my character truly expresses herself is in private conversations with her husband within close doors, where he respects her opinion. Outside that space, society expected women to keep their heads covered, remain indoors and let men make all the important decisions. For someone like me, who has always been independent and believed in making her own choices, it was a powerful reality check. It made me appreciate how far society has progressed.