Preity Zinta on raising her kids to be patriotic while living in USA: Felt proud when my son was shouting Jai Hind..

Ahead of the Independence Day, Preity Zinta tells HT City what freedom means to her and how, despite settling in the US, India continues to rule her heart.

When Preity Zinta walked into Delhi University's Hindu College on Wednesday to promote her upcoming film, the campus energy was unmissable. But with Independence Day just around the corner, the conversation during her chat with HT City quickly turned to matters closer to her heart—family, army roots, and keeping her Indian identity alive across borders while living in a life in the United States.

Preity Zinta attended a session at Delhi University's Hindu College on Wednesday. (Photo: Raajessh Kashyap/HT)

For Preity, patriotism isn't just a holiday mood—it’s in her blood. Having grown up as a daughter to an army dad and now with her brother also serving in the armed forces, Independence Day carries genuine emotional weight.

"Independence Day means pride! It’s the freedom of choice, the freedom of a way of life, the freedom of everything," she says. " Today, when people ask me, "How does it feel when you’re successful?" I say the mark of success is that you can choose what you want. And, yet we take freedom for granted. But, freedom is never free—someone has paid the price for it."

Though settled in the US with husband Gene Goodenough, son Jai and daughter Gia, Preity keeps her home steeped in Indian traditions. Sharing a laugh, she reveals an anecdote on how a 4-year-old Jai completely caught the patriotic spirit during a recent visit back home, a moment that she says has stayed with her. "This time when my son came to India, every time we went through airport security, he’d look at the CISF officers and shout, 'Jai Hind! Jai Hind!'" she beams. The story behind it is pure gold: "My brother is in the army, and mamu ne usko 'Jai Hind' sikhaya tha! So he was going around saying 'Jai Hind, Jai Hind' to everyone. I felt so immensely proud!"

Living thousands of miles away hasn't changed her connection to home either. “We absolutely celebrate Independence Day when back in the US! We have the Indian flag at home. On this day, I salute not just those in uniform, but everyone who sacrificed their future for our today. Freedom is living and loving your country with gratitude.”