You may or may not know who Preeti Jhangiani is, yet, but if I mention Kiran, the young married girl in "Mohabbatein", most likely you would instantly know who I am talking about. She may not be a household name yet, but Preeti Jhangiani feels that she cannot take the path to dropping her clothes to build numbers at the box-office.

Before making a leap on to the silver screen, the hearts of the nation's teen-station were first stolen when Preeti Jhangiani’s picture perfect face leapt out of television ads; her coy appeal later captivated viewers in Milind Ingle's famous Chui mui video.

Its success was followed with a couple of follow-up videos for Ingle's song produced by the Rajshris.

Preeti had a successful period in modelling before making the transition to videos and then films under the big banner Yashraj Films.

When asked how it happened she replied, "It was sheer luck! The fact that I was chosen among 400 other girls and that Rajat Barjatya and Kunal didn't even take my screen test proves that I was plain lucky. Then Aditya Chopra, who had seen my videos, thought that I was perfect for Kiran's role in Mohabbatein and insisted I take it up.

By then I had signed a few films in the South, but he urged me to leave them, so convinced was he about my part in his film!" Preeti recounts.

However, Preeti didn't quite strike filmi success. She starred in one box-office fiasco after another, including “Sukh” with Govinda and “Chahat Ek Nasha” with Aryan Vaid.

She says she is pleased to have worked in Mohabbatein and does not regret those films that were not a successful.

“ I cannot be held liable for the flopped films. Working with Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan can never be a wrong decision. But, I cannot shed my clothes like Bipasha Basu or Mallika Sherawat to make my film a hit. In fact, I want to do films that have a lot of gravity and also which I can sit and enjoy along with my parents," the young actress says.

As well as her work in mainstream Hindi cinema, Preeti is venturing into new territory: "I have just returned from Scotland after shooting for Punjabi-English film with Bali Sagoo," she tells.

Nevertheless, Preeti does manage to stay in the limelight, despite her hiatus from the silver screen. When asked if she is a page three wonder: "I personally feel that PR matters, but being on page three regularly doesn't mean that it can get you a lead role. Talent is needed to survive in the industry," retorts Preeti.

What screen siren does Preeti look up to? "I'm a film freak. I'm always watching movies on my DVD player, especially Sridevi's. I think she is a marvellous actress. I would love to play the character which she played in Chaalbaaz and Khuda Gawah."

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