Actress reflects on comeback with Batwara 1947 and credits Sunny Deol for boosting her confidence
MUMBAI: Bollywood actress Preity Zinta has revealed that she never missed working in films during her eight-year hiatus, saying that raising her family became her highest priority before making her return to the big screen.
The actress, who is set to return with director Rajkumar Santoshi’s Batwara 1947, shared her experiences while speaking to the media ahead of the film’s release. Reflecting on her comeback, Preity admitted that she initially felt nervous about facing the camera after such a long absence from the industry.
She recalled that director Rajkumar Santoshi assigned one of the film’s most demanding scenes on her very first day of shooting, making the return particularly challenging. However, she said co-star Sunny Deol played a key role in helping her regain confidence on set.
Preity humorously said the director “tortured” her by scheduling the most difficult sequence first, while Sunny Deol reassured her throughout the filming process, encouraging her to stay calm and even checking whether she needed anything during the shoot.
Challenging first day eased comeback nerves
The actress explained that the demanding overnight shoot ultimately helped her settle back into acting. Completing the emotionally intense sequence gave her renewed confidence and made the remainder of the production feel much easier.
Preity praised the supportive atmosphere on set, noting that the encouragement she received from her colleagues made the transition back to filmmaking smooth and enjoyable after several years away from the industry.
Star returns with ensemble cast
Preity’s previous film release was Bhaiaji Superhit in 2018, which also featured Sunny Deol. Despite spending years away from the spotlight, she said she never felt the urge to return because she was fully committed to her family life.
Her upcoming film, Batwara 1947, features an ensemble cast including Shabana Azmi, Sunny Deol, Karan Deol, Ali Fazal, Abhimanyu Singh, Khushi Hajare and Kanikka Kapur.
The actress said she is now looking forward to reconnecting with audiences while balancing both her professional career and family responsibilities, marking a new chapter in her journey in the Indian film industry.
