Bollywood divas, Preity Zinta, and Kareena Kapoor, both debuted in the Indian Film industry in the late 90’s/early 00’s, and for many of their early filmy years, maintained an extremely cold vibe towards one another. When questioned about their equation, both actresses admitted not ‘knowing’ one another properly and matters were made worse on Karan Johar’s talk show, Koffee With Karan, in early 2005 when Preity announced that she felt Kareena only greeted her when in the presence of Karan Johar.

The only identifyable explanation to the dislike at the time remained the fact that Kareena Kapoor, the sister of Bollywood sensation Karishma Kapoor, was previously offered Karan Johar’s production, Kal Ho Naa Ho, which she turned down. The film eventually starred Preity Zinta for whom the film proved to be not only a huge commercial success but also a big hit with critics around the globe, bagging Preity the Best Actress gong at all the major award functions of the year and leaving Kareena Kapoor struggling for decent film roles at the time.

The public feud between the two actresses mellowed in 2007, again on Koffee With Karan, where Preity told Karan of how she felt her previous comments on Kareena were slightly immature and that her current equation was more cordial and pleasant. Maybe this is the reason that after 11 years in the industry for Preity and 9 years in Bollywood films for Kareena, the two A-List actresses will be seen together on screen in Sohail Khan’s home production, Main Aurr Mrs Khanna.

The film’s narrative has been kept under tight wrap but the genre of the film has been announced to surround the issue of infidelity, a topic Preity has never been shy to hide from in previous films like Chori Chori Chupke Chupke and Kabhi Alivda Naa Kehna. Though Preity’s role is merely an extended cameo appearance, cinema-goers worldwide are breathless to see the two divas onscreen together. For now, be sure to check out Preity’s sizzling item number, Happening, from the film which hits theatres worldwide this Diwali!

Haroon Rashid