' JOBLESS' PREITY JOINS HARVARD.

PREITY Zinta is back to school, literally. The actress, who has no new films in hand, is doing an executive course in negotiations and deal process at the Harvard Business School in the US and insists that she doesn't want to be seen as " a dumb actress" in class.

"( I) stepped into the Harvard campus with the biggest smile! ( I) saw my course and homework and got a heart attack! Now I am the official book worm!" she writes on her Twitter page. In fact, the actress is also avoiding Bollywood- style song- and- dance at the school.

" At school, someone from class asked if I could show them some Bollywood moves. I said ' small crowds give me stage fright!" she writes on her microblog. " I am going crazy doing homework! My day starts at 5 am and finishes at 11: 30 pm!" she adds.

PREITY feels she needs to " work hard" on her studies: " Otherwise, I will be seen as a dumb actress and that cannot happen. So wish me luck!" She adds it's interesting to note that no other film star has taken up studies in the middle of her career.

Though PREITY is happy to work hard ( at the school) " with a smile", her class has top CEOs, bankers, lawyers etc. " Just finished with class and a group discussion, I feel like I am reborn. There is always scope to learn and invite new experiences in life!" she adds.

It's believed that PREITY has paid almost $ 15,000, or around Rs 7 lakh, to attend the course.

Contrary to her starry image, she has decided not to go for a five- star stay on the campus. Like college students, the actress is living and eating on campus without tantrums.

Preity's film career, on the other hand, has hit a rough patch. The actress' last hit was Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna in 2006. Her last few films -- Heroes , Heaven on Earth , The Last Lear and Jhoom Barabar Jhoom -- have all been duds at box office.

Her next project, Jahnu Barua's Har Pall , has been stuck for quite some time as costar Shiney Ahuja was in jail for allegedly raping his maid. She was last seen doing an item number in the Salman Khan- Kareena Kapoor dud Main Aurr Mrs Khanna . Preity's course of study will focus on high- stake negotiations and involve lectures, class studies and group discussions. Preity's involvement with the business world, through her IPL team Kings XI Punjab, will benefit because of the course.

Richard S. Delacy, a Harvard preceptor in Urdu- Hindi, has stated Zinta has shown an appetite for tackling challenges in her flourishing acting career. " She's known to be one of the most intelligent actors in India," he said.

In fact, Delacy has gone on to describe PREITY as an " A- list star" comparable to Hollywood stars such as Julia Roberts and Renee Zellweger. " She seems to be more of a thinking person ( in Bollywood) based on the roles she's taken," added Delacy.

In the meantime, PREITY is also set to host a TV show, Behind the Seams . It's about the journey of the Kings XI Punjab IPL team with no acting involved.

Preity's reality show is all about cricketers and " you really can't expect cricketers to start acting."

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