Preity Zinta, born 31 January 1975, is an Indian film actress who has appeared in Hindi, Telugu, Punjabi, and English language films. After graduating with a degree in criminal psychology, she made her acting debut in Dil Se.. (1998) and Soldier (1998), earning the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut. She gained recognition for her role as a teenage single mother in Kya Kehna (2000) and established a career portraying diverse characters, contributing to a change in the concept of a Hindi film heroine.
Zinta received the Filmfare Award for Best Actress in 2003 for Kal Ho Naa Ho. She starred in the top-grossing films Koi... Mil Gaya (2003) and Veer-Zaara (2004), the latter earning critical acclaim. She portrayed independent, modern Indian women in Salaam Namaste (2005) and Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006), both successful overseas. Her first international film role was in the Canadian film Heaven on Earth, winning the Silver Hugo Award for Best Actress in 2008. Beyond acting, she has written columns for BBC News Online South Asia, is a social activist, television presenter, stage performer, and founder of PZNZ Media. Alongside Ness Wadia, she co-owns the IPL cricket team Kings XI Punjab. She is known for publicly expressing her opinions, including being the only witness not to retract statements against the Indian mafia during the 2003 Bharat Shah case, for which she received the Godfrey Phillips National Bravery Award.
India
