After nearly a decade away from the film industry, Preity Zinta is preparing for her second release in two months.
Following her return to acting with Batwara 1947, the actor will next appear in Kunal Kemmu’s upcoming film Vibe.
At the trailer launch in Mumbai on Wednesday, Zinta spoke about the long hours she chose to work during the shooting of the action-comedy.
Asked about the debate over extended working hours in the film industry, she said the decision depended on individual circumstances.
Zinta revealed that she sometimes worked for as many as 18 hours a day because she wanted to complete the project quickly and return to the United States to be with her children.
“Each to his own,” she said. “Every day we had very long shoots. The reason I was working 18 hours is that I wanted to finish my work as soon as I could and go back to America to be with my kids.”
Zinta explained that she had travelled to India for a limited period and was determined to complete her portion of the film within that window.
“I was coming to India and I was here for 30-40 days,” she said. “I don’t mind doing this.”
The actor added that filming conditions were not always predictable. The production involved extensive action sequences, while rain, illness and other practical challenges sometimes affected the schedule.
“It’s not always that everyone is laughing on set. You want to get the job done,” she said.
“There was a lot of action. There were many other variables. Sometimes it was raining. Sometimes you were sick.”
The discussion comes amid a wider debate over working hours in Bollywood.
The issue gained attention last year after reports suggested that Deepika Padukone had left Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit following a disagreement over her reported request to limit her working day to eight hours.
Directed by Kunal Kemmu, Vibe is his second directorial venture after the success of Madgaon Express, which was released in 2024.
The film follows a man who becomes unwillingly involved in a secret mission. Zinta will appear in an action-oriented role, while Laapataa Ladies actor Sparsh Srivastav is also part of the cast.
Vanshika Dhir, Yashpal Sharma and Dinesh Lal Yadav will appear in pivotal roles.
Produced by Kemmu and Chirag Nihalani under the banner of Drongo Films, Vibe is presented by Amazon MGM Studios.
The film is scheduled to release in theatres on 18 September.
