Whether It's Stardom Or Sports, Preeti Jhangiani Continues To Reinvent Herself

Preeti Jhangiani was the dreamy 'soft-girl' straight out of Pinterest even before Pinterest existed. Her graceful screen presence, coupled with her portrayal of Kiran as the kind-hearted girl next door, is still fondly remembered by audiences even 25 years after the release of her debut Hindi film, Mohabbatein.

Many years later, Preeti continues to set goals for her fans through her work across regional cinema and her efforts to promote sports among the younger generation. She is currently building a community around armwrestling in India. In an interview with SheThePeople, Preeti reflected on her journey as an actor and entrepreneur, highlighting how she champions women's empowerment through her impactful roles and her ventures into entrepreneurship.

Preeti's characters have always been experimental. She has always been drawn to the stories she was a part of and the characters she brought to life. "Whether it was Thammudu, my debut Telugu film with Pawan Kalyan, it was a film I really wanted to be a part of. Even the part I played in Narsimha Naidu was a strong role for me," she recounted.

As our conversation around regional films proceeded, Preeti shared how she believes that content-driven films are important because films have a huge influence on society. As an actor, she believes in choosing projects that can create an impact on the audience.

The Breakthrough Film

Even now, her audience fondly remembers the sweet and charming Kiran. Her chemistry with Jimmy Shergill was a fan favourite. She went on to win IIFA's Star Debut of the Year for her portrayal. 

Speaking on the love she received for Mohabbatein, she shared how she feels blessed that her audience still remembers her for the iconic role she played 25 years ago. 

Sharing her thoughts on her character Kiran, Preeti shared, "Kiran was a very shy, docile character. The one who lives with restrictions from her in-laws. It was initially difficult for me to resonate with her situation, as I couldn't really relate to her character. But I am glad the audience loved her."

Preeti also credited Aditya Chopra and Manish Malhotra for making Kiran a lovable character. 

On Her Most Challenging Role

In 2017, Preeti's film Taawdo: the Sunlight became a box office hit. She went on to win the Best Actress award at the Rajasthan International Film Festival (RIFF) and a special jury award for Best Actress in the Rajasthan Film Festival 2017.

Her critically acclaimed character was one of the challenging roles she played. Sharing her experience, she said, "The filming conditions were really tough. We were shooting in the desert, where it was extremely hot. I often used to get blisters on my feet. However, I trusted the director's (Vijay Suthar) vision, and I am glad to have been a part of this film."

The story carried a strong social message that addressed casteism, which is still prevalent in India. Preeti shared what compelled her to take on the film. She believed that content-driven films like Taawdo can bring a positive change to age-old traditions, something she aspires to do with her versatile characters.

Championing Armwrestling In India

When Preeti and her husband, Parvin Dabas, watched an armwrestling match, they found the concept intriguing and entertaining. As armwrestling is a game that almost every Indian might have played once in their life, the couple decided to bring this interesting sport into the limelight. They founded Pro Panja League, which brought armwrestling as an exciting and entertaining show for the viewers. 

"It was all Parvin's idea and creative direction behind the league. I handled the management, and being a Sindhi, also the finances," she said. Jhangiani is also currently serving as the President of the People's Arm Wrestling Federation of India (PAFI) and the Vice-President of the Asian Arm Wrestling Federation.

From Reel To Real Strength

As an actor and entrepreneur, Preeti acknowledges the challenges of maintaining work-life balance. She believes that while it is not always possible to find the perfect equilibrium, she tries to set her priorities.

"Currently, I am touring for Pro Panja League. It has been days since I last met my children. The first thing I will do after the tour ends is spend some quality time with them. My mother and sister live in the same building, so it is also much easier for me."

When asked how working with her spouse has been, she shared, "It is honestly rewarding. We understand each other's point of view really well. Even though our dinner-table conversations often turn into business talks, we have never really found it a challenge."

From the shy Kiran of Mohabbatein to critically acclaimed performances in regional cinema, and now as the driving force behind the rise of arm wrestling in India, Preeti Jhangiani has consistently reinvented herself. 

Two and a half decades after her debut, Preeti continues to remind audiences that true stardom lies not only in the characters one plays on screen but also in the ability to create meaningful impact beyond it.