After dad passed, I didn’t feel like returning to shooting: Prreit Kamal

Prreit Kamal, who has acted in Punjabi and Hindi films like Babloo Happy Hai, Saab Bahadar and Marjaaney, lost her father, 60, to a sudden heart attack on March 5. The actress who is based in Delhi and was in Chandigarh to shoot a Punjabi film, says, “I was home in Delhi for Holi in March and dad had been complaining of some gastric issue for a week. Doctors examined him and didn’t find anything alarming because he didn’t have any health issue. Suddenly on March 5, he collapsed,” says Prreit who returned to Chandigarh few days back.

“Honestly, after dad I felt everything was futile and I did not want to return to shooting. I didn’t have the heart to leave mom and had to take care of dad’s business,” she says. Calling her dad, “my pillar of strength”, she adds, “But then I reminded myself that seeing me as an actor was dad’s dream. He was so proud seeing my films, my interviews and he motivated me at times when I wanted to quit. So, I came back leaving mom to my younger brother.”

Prreit says after her MBA degree, she asked her father’s permission to do an acting course in Mumbai. “He never stopped me from anything and told me to go to Mumbai and try it out as if I were on a vacation. If it worked out, fine, else he said we have our family business, and I can take that over.”

As Prreit completes shooting for her next film, Fer Mamlaa Gadbad Hai, she is saddened by the thought, “My dad won’t be around to see my film,” she says, adding, “But I know, in spirit he is always there.”

Prreit vies that in hindsight, “I feel I didn’t tell him enough how much I love him. Earlier, I would talk to Guru Nanak Devji in solitude, now I talk to papa. And somehow, I feel I talk to him more now.”