Preity Zinta gets a hearing...

By: Reshma Kelkar, IndiaFM
Friday, March 23, 2007
Preity Zinta was present in the Metropolitan Court on Thursday for the hearing of her defamation case that she filed against Mumbai tabloid Mid-Day. She was present for the first hearing of the case.

Preity filed the defamation case on July 15, 2005, when Mid Day published the part of the conversation that referred to the actress in a controversial way. Speaking during the hearing of the case Preity said, "That news piece was completely fictitious. It is very shocking to Indian morals. It doesn't serve as news but is cheap; such language corrupts and depresses the young people who read the newspaper."

Preity was not in India when the article was published. Speaking on the same, she says, "I felt humiliated as it spoiled my reputation and character in public. The repetition of words like "f**k" and "m********e" shows that I have had sexual relationship with actor Salman Khan." She further explained that it has personally and professionally affected her. "I was supposed to do a film with Salman Khan under Tips Banner that was called off. Also, I had started the shoot of Jaan-E-Mann but the set had to be dismantled and film was delayed. I also lost out some endorsements like Maggi and Lays."

Popular for her bubbly image, Preity Zinta is extremely famous among children and youth. She has also been awarded by Red and White bravery award. According to her, there was no authenticity in the article as it wasn't verified also. The tabloid also published her mail and photographs, which led her to believe that it was intentionally done to defame her.

After the article was published, Preity started getting lewd calls. She said, "I started getting cheap calls from people especially from boys saying that they are Salman Khan and something like that had never happened in the past. I was repeatedly asked by the media regarding this which was extremely embarrassing for me."

It can be recalled that prior to this, Preity was a witness in the Bharat Shah's case and his links to the Mumbai mafia. Preity stuck by her statement even though she received a threatening phone call from the mafia.

Yesterday, Preity was cross-examined by the defense lawyer and was asked to be present in court on April 11 for the second hearing. When asked about the hearings she said, "I am very grateful to the judge and very happy that at least I am getting hearings. These things will not happen in one day. A journey of thousand miles begins with a single step. I am positive about this case. Hope it goes well. Sach ki hamesha anth main jeet hoti hai." (truth always prevails at the end), she concludes.

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