By Subhash K Jha

Preity flew into Mumbai on Wednesday from her busy schedule in Mohali to record a promotional clipping for the Bachchans' Unforgettable concerts.

If you've been wondering why Preity is seen in dark glasses at all her IPL events in and out of Mohali, it's not for fashionable causes. A seemingly minor eye injury two weeks ago blew up into a serious problem for Preity Zinta.

"Anything could've happened," she shudders. "At an event in Mohali two weeks ago a stranger's elbow jabbed into my eye. I felt the room swim. And the eye got immediately swollen. But after ice-pack treatment for hours it seemed to be in control. Little did I know what was in store."

In the next few days Preity's eye condition worsened. "The pupil acquired every colour in the rainbow, and the cornea shrank. I was in a panic. My mother was so worried. Finally I went to a really good doctor, the same one who looks after the Bachchans' eyes. At last my eye is healed."

Now Preity intends to maintain a safe distance from crowds during her public appearances in Mohali.

The Bachchans and Preity seem to be bonded in more ways than one. And the bonding gets strongers now that Preity joins them on their world tour.

"I'm very fond of Jayaji and Amitji. And Abhishek is a chum. I also think Aishwarya is very cool. In fact I'm now joining them on their world tour in July. And really looking forward to it."

Unlike the other actors like Akshay Kumar and Shahid Kapoor who would be making appearances at selected venues, Preity will be accompanying the Bachchans throughout their 2-month tour.

Several actresses who were verbally committed to join the Bachchans chickened out with lame excuses. Putting aside her plans to return to acting after the IPL activities in July Preity decided to join the Bachchans for their world concerts.

She brushes off any suggestion of largesse. "I don't know why the other actresses aren't going. The Bachchans are my buddies. They asked me. I agreed. As simple as that.

In fact I've been on a world tour with them before and I had myself a ball. I'm looking forward to this one too. And I do not care who's going with them, or not."

What she does care about is the oncoming IPL matches in Mohali, and not only for the matches. "The people there are so warm and friendly. Ness and I have begun to care for the town.

See while the others in the IPL have got developed cities, we're the only ones who were given a town that's growing. And we're so proud to be part of that growth.

Mohali is an air-force base so only army planes land there. There's already talk of an international airport and several luxury hotels in the town, all thanks to the IPL."

Speaking of her team's rocking music video Preity giggles, "Ram Madhvani shot our film exactly the way we wanted. Daler Mehdi captured the flavour and ethos of Punjab so wonderfully in his song.

We wanted it to be about the spirit of the game and we wanted the people of Chandigarh and Mohali to participate. I made just a fleeting appearance in it. It felt good.I haven't faced the camera for some months."