<p>Actor-entrepreneur Preity Zinta has opened up about facing harassment on two separate occasions during her recent visit to the city and said the incidents have left her a "bit shaken".</p>.<p>In a lengthy post on Instagram, Zinta revealed that a woman tried to take a photograph with her toddler Gia, but when the actor "politely" said no, the lady "suddenly scooped my daughter in her arms & planted a big wet kiss next to her mouth & ran off saying what a cute baby."</p>.<p>"This woman lives in an elite building & happened to be in the garden where my kids were playing. If I wasn’t a celebrity I probably would have reacted badly but kept my cool as I didn’t want to make a scene," the actor, who shares twins Gia and Jai with husband Gene Goodenough, wrote.</p>.<p>Detailing the second incident, the Kings XI Punjab team co-owner said she was rushing to the airport when a disabled man started getting "aggressive" as she couldn't offer him money due to lack of cash at the time.</p>.<p>"I had a plane to catch & this disabled man kept trying to stop me. Over the years, he has harassed me for money & I have given it to him when I could. This time when he asked for money I said sorry today I have no cash, just a credit card.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/preity-zinta-visits-kamakhya-temple-after-staying-up-all-night-feels-peace-calm-1207776.html" target="_blank">Preity Zinta visits Kamakhya temple after staying up all night, feels 'peace & calm'</a></strong></p>.<p>"The lady with me gave him some money from her purse. He threw it back at her cuz it wasn’t enough & started getting aggressive," she wrote alongside a video of the disabled man following her car.</p>.<p>The 48-year-old actor is currently in India to attend the ongoing IPL 2023 tournament with her team Kings XI Punjab.</p>.<p>Zinta, known for starring in movies such as <em>Dil Se</em>, <em>Soldier</em>, <em>Kal Ho Naa Ho</em>, <em>Koi... Mil Gaya</em>, <em>Veer-Zaara</em> and <em>Lakshya</em>, said it's high time people realised that celebrities are "human beings" first.</p>.<p>"I’m a human being first, then a mom & then a celebrity. I also don’t need to apologise for my success constantly & be bullied for it cuz I’ve worked very hard to get where I am.</p>.<p>"I have an equal right like anyone else in this country to live the way I want so please think before you judge & please stop blaming celebrities for everything. There are always 2 sides to a story," she wrote, adding that her children are "not part of a package deal & are not meant to be preyed on"</p>.<p>"They are infants & need to be treated like infants, not celebrities."</p>.<p>Zinta also called out the paparazzi for laughing over the situation instead of helping her.</p>.<p>"The photographers found this incident funny. Instead of helping us they filmed & laughed. NO ONE told him not to follow the car or harass us as anyone could have gotten hurt. Had there been an accident, I would have been blamed. My being a celebrity would have been questioned. Bollywood would have been blamed & a lot of negativity would have spread."</p>.<p>She hopes the photographers that "ask us for photos, videos & sound bytes also have the grace, humanity & maturity to act & help in the future instead of filming & laughing cuz most of the time it’s not funny."</p>.<p>Zinta found support in her film industry colleagues. While Hrithik Roshan lauded her for voicing her concerns, Arjun Rampal asked her to give him a "call" whenever she is in any difficult situation in future.</p>.<p>Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Mallaika Arora and Lilly Singh also praised the actor for taking a stand.</p>.<p>Zinta lives in Los Angeles, California, with her husband and children.</p>
<p>Actor-entrepreneur Preity Zinta has opened up about facing harassment on two separate occasions during her recent visit to the city and said the incidents have left her a "bit shaken".</p>.<p>In a lengthy post on Instagram, Zinta revealed that a woman tried to take a photograph with her toddler Gia, but when the actor "politely" said no, the lady "suddenly scooped my daughter in her arms & planted a big wet kiss next to her mouth & ran off saying what a cute baby."</p>.<p>"This woman lives in an elite building & happened to be in the garden where my kids were playing. If I wasn’t a celebrity I probably would have reacted badly but kept my cool as I didn’t want to make a scene," the actor, who shares twins Gia and Jai with husband Gene Goodenough, wrote.</p>.<p>Detailing the second incident, the Kings XI Punjab team co-owner said she was rushing to the airport when a disabled man started getting "aggressive" as she couldn't offer him money due to lack of cash at the time.</p>.<p>"I had a plane to catch & this disabled man kept trying to stop me. Over the years, he has harassed me for money & I have given it to him when I could. This time when he asked for money I said sorry today I have no cash, just a credit card.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/preity-zinta-visits-kamakhya-temple-after-staying-up-all-night-feels-peace-calm-1207776.html" target="_blank">Preity Zinta visits Kamakhya temple after staying up all night, feels 'peace & calm'</a></strong></p>.<p>"The lady with me gave him some money from her purse. He threw it back at her cuz it wasn’t enough & started getting aggressive," she wrote alongside a video of the disabled man following her car.</p>.<p>The 48-year-old actor is currently in India to attend the ongoing IPL 2023 tournament with her team Kings XI Punjab.</p>.<p>Zinta, known for starring in movies such as <em>Dil Se</em>, <em>Soldier</em>, <em>Kal Ho Naa Ho</em>, <em>Koi... Mil Gaya</em>, <em>Veer-Zaara</em> and <em>Lakshya</em>, said it's high time people realised that celebrities are "human beings" first.</p>.<p>"I’m a human being first, then a mom & then a celebrity. I also don’t need to apologise for my success constantly & be bullied for it cuz I’ve worked very hard to get where I am.</p>.<p>"I have an equal right like anyone else in this country to live the way I want so please think before you judge & please stop blaming celebrities for everything. There are always 2 sides to a story," she wrote, adding that her children are "not part of a package deal & are not meant to be preyed on"</p>.<p>"They are infants & need to be treated like infants, not celebrities."</p>.<p>Zinta also called out the paparazzi for laughing over the situation instead of helping her.</p>.<p>"The photographers found this incident funny. Instead of helping us they filmed & laughed. NO ONE told him not to follow the car or harass us as anyone could have gotten hurt. Had there been an accident, I would have been blamed. My being a celebrity would have been questioned. Bollywood would have been blamed & a lot of negativity would have spread."</p>.<p>She hopes the photographers that "ask us for photos, videos & sound bytes also have the grace, humanity & maturity to act & help in the future instead of filming & laughing cuz most of the time it’s not funny."</p>.<p>Zinta found support in her film industry colleagues. While Hrithik Roshan lauded her for voicing her concerns, Arjun Rampal asked her to give him a "call" whenever she is in any difficult situation in future.</p>.<p>Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Mallaika Arora and Lilly Singh also praised the actor for taking a stand.</p>.<p>Zinta lives in Los Angeles, California, with her husband and children.</p>