Preity Zinta, who says she gets nightmares every night after having narrowly escaped a blast in Colombo, has been signed on to play the lead in another Yashraj production after "Veer-Zaara".

To be directed by a newcomer, Siddharth, the film will feature Preity opposite her favorite co-star Saif Ali Khan.

The actress, who has just returned rattled and shaken from the Colombo concert that featured actor Shah Rukh Khan, is very excited about her new assignment.

"The minute I heard the director narrate the script, I knew I wanted to do it. I've been listening to so many scripts lately, but I hadn't signed anything after "Veer-Zaara". This Yashraj film will take me beyond what I've already done. That's the only reason for me to take on a new assignment. It has to take me beyond where I've already been."

That's exactly what Karan Johar's next, in which she is paired with Shah Rukh Khan, promises to do.

"These are the only two projects I've on hand. And they'll keep me busy for the most of next year," says Preity while shooting a new ad.

While she is looking forward to her new films, Preity is still to recover from the Colombo escape when a blast hit the concert venue on Dec 11.

She recalls shakily: "I was five metres away from sure death. It was the most nightmarish scene I've ever witnessed in my life. It was just minutes before Priyanka Chopra and Celina Jaitley came into my makeup place to change. Suddenly I heard an explosion. I couldn't make out what it was, so I stepped out... to see a man flying straight into the air. I still couldn't understand what was going on.

"When people started running helter-skelter I knew something was awfully wrong. I suddenly felt these hands tugging me urgently to leave the place. I shrugged them away, saying I can walk on my own. But my legs were shaking like jelly as I climbed down the ancient iron stairs. At the bottom, a woman stood bleeding. Her hand had been blown off her arm. She was begging for help... now I get nightmares every night. I don't think I'll ever be able to put it out of my mind."

Preity stops to take a deep breath. "Now more than ever I know I should enjoy every second of my life. Kya pataa...kal ho na ho."