Actor Celina Jaitly has revealed that Preity Zinta was one of her strongest pillars of support when she returned to India during a difficult phase in her marriage and had no home to move into. Speaking to India Today's Gaurav Sawant, Jaitly recalled spending 10 days in a hotel before obtaining a court order that allowed her to re-enter her own house, relying on only a handful of close friends during that period.
She also shared that Zinta played a significant role in helping her reconnect with her faith when she was emotionally shattered. Jaitly said visits to the Maa Baglamukhi temple in Dharamsala and Ujjain led her to realise that embracing her Sanatana dharma and reconnecting with her roots was her true path.
Reflecting on her return to India, Jaitly said she had no home of her own and stayed at a friend's hotel at a discounted rate until legal proceedings allowed her access to her house. With both parents gone and her brother absent, she said she found support in just a few trusted friends.
Expressing gratitude, she thanked several people who stood by her, including her director, producer, her late father's colleagues, and especially Preity Zinta. Calling Zinta a steadfast source of strength, Jaitly said she was the only person who truly understood how emotionally broken she was and credited her for encouraging the spiritual journeys that helped her heal.
Jaitly is preparing to return to Hindi cinema with Sister Nivedita. During the interview, she also reflected on the personal tragedies that have marked her life, including the deaths of her parents, the loss of one of her twin sons, and her brother's imprisonment.
Speaking about coping with these experiences, she said it often felt as though she was living a story she never chose. She admitted there were nights when she felt overwhelmed and questioned whether she could continue, but said she always found the strength to accept reality, regain her composure, and carry on. Despite the immense hardships, she emphasised that she never considered giving up.
Jaitly also spoke openly about experiencing emotional abuse in her marriage, the grief of losing her first son, and the deaths of her parents, describing how she gradually rebuilt her life while navigating profound loss.
