Preity Zinta

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 Preity Zinta (born 31 January 1975) is an Indian film actress. She has appeared in Hindi
films of Bollywood, as well as Telugu, Punjabi and English language films. After
graduating with a degree in criminal psychology, Zinta made her acting debut in Dil Se
in 1998 followed by a role in Soldier the same year. These performances earned her a
Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut, and she was later recognised for her role as a
teenage single mother in Kya Kehna (2000). She subsequently played a variety of
character types; her film roles along with her screen persona contributed to a change in
the concept of a Hindi film heroine.

Biography / Biodata 

Zinta received a Filmfare Award for Best Actress in 2003 for her performance in the
drama Kal Ho Naa Ho. She went on to play the lead female role in two consecutive annual
top-grossing films in India: the science fiction film Koi... Mil Gaya, her biggest
commercial success, and the star-crossed romance Veer-Zaara, which earned her critical
acclaim. She was later noted for her portrayal of independent, modern Indian women in
Salaam Namaste and Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, top-grossing productions in overseas markets.
These accomplishments have established her as a leading actress of Hindi cinema. Her
first international film role was in the Canadian film Heaven on Earth, for which she
was awarded the Silver Hugo Award for Best Actress at the 2008 Chicago International
Film Festival.
 In addition to movie acting, Zinta has written a series of columns for BBC News Online
South Asia, is a television presenter, a regular stage performer, and along with ex-
boyfriend Ness Wadia she is a co-owner of the Indian Premier League cricket team Kings
XI Punjab. She is known in the Indian media for publicly speaking her mind and openly
expressing her opinions, and consequently has sparked the occasional controversy. These
controversies include her being the only witness not to retract in court her earlier
statements against the Indian mafia during the 2003 Bharat Shah case, for which she was
awarded the Godfrey Phillips National Bravery Award.

Early life and background
Zinta was born into a Hindu Rajput family from Rohru in Shimla district, Himachal
Pradesh. Her father, Durganand Zinta, was an officer in the Indian Army. He died in a
car accident when she was 13 years old; the accident also involved her mother,
Nilprabha, who was severely injured and consequently remained bedridden for two years.
Zinta called the tragic accident and her father's death a significant turning point in
her life, which forced her to mature rapidly. She has two brothers; Deepankar and
Manish, a year older and a year younger respectively. Deepankar is a commissioned
officer in the Indian Army, while Manish lives in California.
 Zinta, who describes herself as a tomboy as a child, has emphasised her father's
military background as having a lasting impression on how family life was conducted. He
asserted the importance of discipline and punctuality to the children. She studied at
the Convent of Jesus and Mary boarding school in Shimla. Although she confesses to
loneliness in the boarding school, she noted that it was compensated by her finding a
"... perfect set of friends" there. As a student, she developed a love for literature,
particularly the works of William Shakespeare and poetry. According to Zinta, she
enjoyed schoolwork and received good grades; in her free time she played sports,
especially basketball.
 Upon graduating from the boarding school at age 18, Zinta enrolled at St Bede's College
in Shimla. She graduated college with an English honours degree, and then started a
graduate programme in psychology. She earned a postgraduate degree in criminal
psychology, but later took up modelling. Zinta's first television commercial was for
Perk chocolates, the result of a chance meeting with a director at a friend's birthday
party in 1996. The director persuaded Zinta to audition for the spot, and she was
selected. Afterwards, she appeared in other catalogues and commercials, including one
for the soap Liril.

Later that year, Zinta starred in Vidhu Vinod Chopra's drama Mission Kashmir alongside
Sanjay Dutt and Hrithik Roshan. Set in the valley of Kashmir during the Indo-Pakistani
conflicts, the film dealt with the topic of terrorism and crime. Zinta's role was that
of Sufiya Parvez, a TV reporter and Roshan's childhood love. A review in The Hindu said
about her performance, "Preity Zinta is her usual cherubic self and lends colour to the
otherwise serious proceedings". It was an economic success, becoming the third-highest
grossing film of the year in India.

In 2001, Zinta earned positive reviews for her role in Farhan Akhtar's National Film
Award-winning Dil Chahta Hai, co-starring Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan and Akshaye Khanna.
Depicting the contemporary routine life of Indian affluent youth, it is set in modern-
day urban Mumbai and focuses on a major period of transition in the lives of three young
friends. Zinta starred as Aamir Khan's love interest, Shalini. According to critics, the
film broke new ground by showing Indian youth as they are today. Despite the critical
reception, it was only a moderate box office success in India; it performed well in the
big cities but failed in the rural areas, which was attributed by critics to the urban-
oriented lifestyle depicted in the movie. Rediff.com wrote of Zinta that she "... is
beautiful and vibrant, wavering between endearingly naive and confused".
Three more 2001 releases featured Zinta, including Abbas-Mustan's romantic drama Chori
Chori Chupke Chupke, which was released after a one-year delay due to the trial of
producer Bharat Shah. This film was one of the first Bollywood movies to address the
controversial issue of surrogate childbirth. Zinta's performance as Madhubala, a golden
-hearted prostitute hired as a surrogate mother, earned her a Filmfare Best Supporting
Actress nomination. Rediff.com noted, "Preity Zinta, who clearly has the meatiest part
of all, makes the best of it. Her transformation from the cocky and unabashed prostitute
to a sensitive and warm person is amazingly believable." Following her portrayal of a
range of characters in Kya Kehna, Sangharsh and Chori Chori Chupke Chupke, Zinta gained
a reputation for playing roles that go against Indian traditional mores and was often
recognised for her versatility as an actress. Critics attributed her roles in these
films as to establishing a new image for leading actresses in Bollywood.

In 2002, Zinta collaborated once again with director Kundan Shah, as the protagonist in
the family drama Dil Hai Tumhaara, alongside Rekha, Mahima Chaudhry and Arjun Rampal.
Although the film did not succeed at the box office, her portrayal of Shalu, an adopted
daughter craving love, was critically acclaimed. Taran Adarsh from indiaFM noted, "...
Preity Zinta, in an author-backed role ... steals the show with a sterling performance.
Her scenes with Rekha (second half) and Alok Nath (pre-climax) are simply outstanding.
Here's a performance that is sure to win accolades from the junta and critics whole-
heartedly."

 Acting career
Early work (1997–99)
In 1997, Zinta met film-maker Shekhar Kapur when she accompanied a friend to an
audition, and was asked if she would audition too. Upon seeing her audition, Kapur
insisted that she become an actress. She was originally scheduled to make her screen
debut in Kapur's Tara Rum Pum Pum opposite Hrithik Roshan, but the filming was
cancelled. Kapur later recommended her for director Mani Ratnam's movie Dil Se. Zinta
often recalls that when she joined the film industry, her friends teased her that she
would typically "wear white saris and dance in the rain", thereby motivating her to play
different parts.
Zinta commenced shooting for Kundan Shah's Kya Kehna, whose release was delayed until
2000. The delay of another film, Soldier, meant that her first release was Dil Se (1998)
opposite Shahrukh Khan and Manisha Koirala. She was introduced as Preeti Nair, a middle
-class Delhi girl and Khan's fiancée. The film was considered an unusual launch for a
newcomer, as her role called for only 20 minutes of screen time. However, she was
eventually noticed for her role, particularly for the forthright character she played.
Her scene with Khan, in which she asked him, "Are you a virgin?", became well-known, and
her portrayal earned her a Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award nomination. She played
her first leading role in the action-drama Soldier (1998), a commercial hit of the year.
She won the Filmfare Best Female Debut Award for her performance in both Dil Se and
Soldier.
Zinta next acted in two Telugu films, Premante Idera (1998), opposite Venkatesh; and
Raja Kumarudu (1999), opposite Mahesh Babu. She followed with the leading role in the
thriller Sangharsh, alongside Akshay Kumar. The film, based on The Silence of the Lambs
(1991), was directed by Tanuja Chandra and written by Mahesh Bhatt. Zinta portrayed the
character of Reet Oberoi, a CBI officer who falls in love with a captured killer played
by Kumar. The film was not a box-office success, although Zinta's performance was
appreciated by critics.

 Breakthrough (2000–02)
Zinta's first role in 2000 was in the drama Kya Kehna, which unexpectedly became a box-
office success. The film addressed themes of single parenthood and teenage pregnancy,
and gained Zinta wider recognition from the public as well as film critics. Her
portrayal of a teenage single mother who fights social prejudice earned her several
award nominations, including her first nomination for Best Actress at the Filmfare
Awards. India Today reported that Zinta belonged to a new breed of Hindi film actors
that breaks away from character stereotypes.

Preity Zinta as a witness
Preity was a witness in Bharat Shah case and his connections with Chhota Shakeel. She
stated in the open court that she had received threatening phone calls from the mafia
during the shooting the film Chori Chori Chupke Chupke (2000), while other celebrities
like Salman Khan and Shahruk Khan turned hostile. As there was real threat to her life,
she was given police protection. She was honoured with Bravery Award for her “Courageous
Act” to stand against the Mumbai Underworld in Bharat Shah case.[2006]

Preity Zinta quotes

“I believe people blend better than governments anyway. My sister-in-law is half-

American and half-Pakistani. We don’t look at boundaries.”“I’m sick of being bubbly.
I’m sick of being talkative and I’m sick of being cute,”
“I never thought I’d be an actor. I had never gone to film school or done a dance
class.”

” To be brave is not to be fearless. It is when you fear and you get over it, then you
can be called brave. I am human. It is not that I fear nothing. But getting over a fear
is a continuous process and I have been successful so far.” [When she was honoured with
Bravery Award]
 “I have a very good physical trainer and a very hectic schedule that is keeping me
away from good food. And, of course, lots of branded good clothes.”
“I have changed so much as a person. When I started I was this chitty-chatty person.
But now, I am more calm and composed and I know what I want from life.”

“Please do your homework before you report anything to the nation. You cannot target
me and my boyfriend just because I am a film star. If you want to talk about me, then
say I’m the most beautiful woman and I have the most amazing films. Why are you bringing
in my boyfriend and me and creating this mess?” [ When the media wrote bad about her
boyfriend Ness Wadia in 2006]

Success (2003–07)
Zinta was the female lead in India's three highest-grossing films of 2003: The Hero:
Love Story of a Spy, Koi... Mil Gaya and Kal Ho Naa Ho. The Hero, co-starring Sunny Deol
and Priyanka Chopra, is a patriotic drama about a spy network involving terrorists and
an Indian army officer. Zinta played the part of Reshma, a villager who falls in love
with the officer and becomes part of this network. The film, involving stunts never seen
before in the cinematic history of Bollywood, became the most expensive Hindi film ever
produced at the time. Despite being the third highest-grossing film of that year, it
failed to recover its production costs at the box office. She next starred in Honey
Irani's directorial debut, Armaan, alongside Amitabh Bachchan and Anil Kapoor. This
drama is set in a hospital and follows the travails of its personnel and its principal,
Dr. Akash, who struggles arduously to sustain the institution financially. Zinta played
Akash's schizophrenic wife Sonia Kapoor. The film received predominantly positive
reviews, and Zinta was particularly praised. The Tribune concluded, "Zinta has
outclassed everyone with her convincing performance." For her performance, she received
nominations for Best Villain at different award ceremonies, including Filmfare.
Rakesh Roshan's science-fiction film Koi... Mil Gaya, about a developmentally disabled
young man, followed. Co-starring with Rekha and Hrithik Roshan, Zinta played the role of
Nisha, a young woman whom Roshan befriends. She received another Best Actress nomination
at the Filmfare for the role. The movie was a financial and critical success and became
the most popular film of the year, as well as Zinta's highest-grossing movie, with a
domestic total of Rs 425 million; it won the Filmfare Award for Best Movie, among
others.
 Zinta's final release of 2003 was Kal Ho Naa Ho, a tearjerker set in New York City. It
was directed by Nikhil Advani and written by Karan Johar, co-starring Jaya Bachchan,
Shahrukh Khan and Saif Ali Khan. The film was received favourably by critics and became
India's second-biggest hit of the year after Koi... Mil Gaya. It also did well
internationally and became India's top-grossing film of the year overseas, earning over
Rs 750 million worldwide. Zinta played the role of Naina Catherine Kapur, an insecure
and angry young Indian-American woman who falls in love with a man who has a fatal heart
disease. She won several awards for her performance, including the Filmfare Award for
Best Actress. Derek Elley from Variety wrote, "Zinta, who's been carving a growing
following the past three years or so, has never been better, definitively moving from
juve roles to a charismatic young woman with her sexy, assured Naina."
In 2004 she starred as TV journalist Romila Dutta in Farhan Akhtar's war drama Lakshya,
co-starring with Hrithik Roshan. The film was based on the historical events of the 1999
Kargil Conflict; Zinta's character was modeled after TV journalist Barkha Dutt, the only
female reporter assigned to the story. The film was a critical success, yet her
performance received mixed reviews; Rediff.com noted, "Zinta has quite a good role and a
good deal of footage in the film, and she does a fairly decent job of it without ever
being spectacular." Later that year, Yash Chopra cast her opposite Shahrukh Khan as the
female lead in the love saga Veer-Zaara, the top-grossing Hindi film of that year in
both India and abroad, with revenues of over Rs 900 million worldwide. The film, which
relates the love story of an Indian officer, Veer Pratap Singh, and a Pakistani woman,
Zaara Haayat Khan, had a strong international release, including a screening at the
Berlin Film Festival, and won several Best Movie awards at major Indian award functions.
For her portrayal of Zaara, a smart Pakistani girl, Zinta received her fourth Filmfare
Best Actress nomination. Variety hailed her as "the most interesting young actress of
her generation," writing that she "is her usual lively self as the willful Zaara." Veer
-Zaara was Zinta's second highest-grossing film and third major success in two
consecutive years. It marked the beginning of her work with Yash Raj Films, one of the
largest production houses in Bollywood.
 In 2005, Zinta appeared in two movies. Her first release was the folk comedy Khullam
Khulla Pyaar Karen, co-starring Govinda, a production that had been delayed since 2002.
The film garnered negative reviews and poor box office returns. Zinta's role was small,
and was not well received. Her next release was Siddharth Anand's comedy-drama Salaam
Namaste, co-starring Saif Ali Khan. Produced by Yash Raj Films, it was the first Indian
feature to be filmed entirely in Australia and went on to become the year's highest-
grossing Bollywood production outside of India, earning Rs 570 million internationally.
The film tells the story of a contemporary cohabiting Indian couple and their subsequent
struggle with an unexpected pregnancy. Zinta played the female protagonist Ambar
Malhotra, a single modern young woman who leaves India to make her own life in
Australia. The film was well received by critics, and Zinta's performance earned her
nominations for Best Actress at a number of award ceremonies. Taran Adarsh wrote, "After
Kya Kehna, Preity Zinta accepts the challenge of portraying an unwed mother yet again in
Salaam Namaste. The actor is terrific, delivering her most accomplished performance to
date." The New York Times noted, "She is cheerleader-homecoming queen-fraternity
sweetheart pretty, so even when her characters are being unkind it's hard not to like
her."
Zinta received further success in 2006, starring in Karan Johar's drama Kabhi Alvida Naa
Kehna with an ensemble cast including Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan, Abhishek
Bachchan, Rani Mukerji and Kirron Kher. The film became one of the biggest box office
hits in India, earning Rs 458 million, and grossed over Rs 480 million abroad, the
biggest Bollywood success of all-time in the overseas market up until then. It was her
fourth overseas top-earner in four consecutive years. The film tells the story of two
unhappily married couples in New York, and an ensuing extramarital affair. Zinta played
the role of Rhea Saran, an ambitious fashion magazine editor. She described the role as
an attempt to shed her vivacious public image. The Indian Express concurred that this
was successful: "The lady has not just looked glamorous but she has walked with poise,
sat with grace, smiled with composure and spoke with calmness. Who would have thought
that the bubbly girl could so skillfully shed her age-old tag and walk away as the
don't-mess-with-me lass. So all those who are in search of the peppy Preity, well guys
you've dialed the wrong number this time."
 She then starred in Shirish Kunder's romantic musical Jaan-E-Mann, a story set in the
United States about two men, played by Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar, who love the same
woman. The film opened to mixed reviews from critics and its eventual box-office profit
was poor. Zinta played the role of Piya, the cynosure of two men. She was mostly
criticised for taking a role of minimal importance, though her performance was generally
well-received. Raja Sen labelled her role an "ornament throughout," but further stated
that she "comes vividly alive in the film's last scene, a moment that makes you lament
why filmmakers today don't let the babyfaced actress have more fun instead of forcing
her to sob copiously. She doesn't have much to do in Jaan-E-Mann, but looks
appropriately attractive." Zinta said that the film was a great relief after the more
emotionally intense Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, as Jaan-E-Mann was "easy, happy and much
more simple".
In 2007 Zinta portrayed a British Pakistani woman, Alvira Khan, in her third project
with Yash Raj Films, Shaad Ali's comedy Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, alongside Abhishek
Bachchan, Bobby Deol and Lara Dutta. The film was a critical and commercial failure in
India. She was criticised for her performance; The Times of India described her as "too
plastic" and Rediff.com concluded, "From accent to emotion, Preity is plain and simple
insufferable in this film."