Preity Zinta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Preity Zinta
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Zinta in 2018
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Preity Zinta
31 January 1975 Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India
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| Alma mater | St. Bede's College, Shimla |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1998–present |
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Works
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Full list |
| Spouse(s) |
Gene Goodenough
(m. 2016) |
| Children | 2 |
| Awards | Full list |
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Preity G. Zinta (born January 31, 1975) is an Indian actress known for her work in Hindi movies. After earning degrees in English and psychology, Zinta began her acting career in 1998 with the films Dil Se.. and Soldier. For these roles, she won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut. She became well-known for playing a teenage single mother in Kya Kehna (2000).
Throughout the 2000s, she became a top actress in Hindi cinema. She often played strong, modern female characters, which was different from many roles at the time. Her performances won her many awards. She won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress for the movie Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003). She also starred in two of the highest-earning films in India, Koi... Mil Gaya (2003) and Veer-Zaara (2004).
Besides acting, Zinta is a social activist, television host, and stage performer. She is the founder of a production company called PZNZ Media. She is also a co-owner of the Indian Premier League cricket team Punjab Kings and owner of the South-African team Stellenbosch Kings. Zinta is known for speaking her mind, and she received a bravery award for her courage during a court case.
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Early life and background
Preity Zinta was born on January 31, 1975, in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. Her father, Durganand Zinta, was an officer in the Indian Army. When she was thirteen, her father passed away in a car accident. Her mother, Nilprabha, was also in the accident and was seriously injured. Zinta has said this event was a major turning point in her life that made her grow up quickly.
Zinta described herself as a tomboy when she was a child. She said her father's army background taught her the importance of discipline and being on time. She went to a boarding school in Shimla. As a student, she loved literature, especially the works of William Shakespeare. She enjoyed school, got good grades, and played sports like basketball.
After high school, Zinta attended St. Bede's College, Shimla. She graduated with a degree in English and later earned a postgraduate degree in psychology. She then began modeling. Her first TV commercial was for Perk chocolates in 1996. After that, she appeared in more ads, including one for Liril soap.
Acting career
Debut and early roles (1998–1999)
In 1998, Zinta met director Shekhar Kapur at an audition. He encouraged her to become an actress. Her first film was supposed to be Tara Rum Pum Pum, but it was cancelled. Kapur then recommended her for the movie Dil Se.. (1998), starring Shah Rukh Khan. Even though she was only on screen for 20 minutes, people noticed her performance.
Her first big hit was the action movie Soldier (1998), which was one of the highest-grossing films of the year. For her roles in both Dil Se.. and Soldier, she won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut. She also acted in the thriller Sangharsh, where she played a police officer.
Breakthrough roles (2000–2002)
Zinta's career took off in 2000 with the movie Kya Kehna. The film was a surprise hit and dealt with the topic of teenage single mothers. Her role as a young woman who stands up to society earned her a nomination for Best Actress at the Filmfare Awards. That same year, she starred in the successful romantic comedy Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega and the drama Mission Kashmir.
In 2001, she appeared in Chori Chori Chupke Chupke. In the film, she played a kind-hearted woman who helps a couple have a baby. To prepare for the role, she visited nightclubs in Mumbai to study how people there behaved. Her performance was praised by critics.
She also starred in Dil Chahta Hai (2001), a popular film about the lives of three friends in the city. The movie won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi. In 2002, she played the lead role in Dil Hai Tumhaara. Although the film was not a box office success, her performance was highly praised.
Success as a leading actress (2003–2007)
The year 2003 was a major one for Zinta. She starred in three of the year's highest-grossing films: The Hero: Love Story of a Spy, Koi... Mil Gaya, and Kal Ho Naa Ho. The Hero was an action film about a secret agent. Koi... Mil Gaya was a science-fiction film where she starred alongside Hrithik Roshan. It became the most popular Indian film of the year.
Her role as Naina in the romantic drama Kal Ho Naa Ho won her the Filmfare Award for Best Actress. The film, set in New York City, was a huge success both in India and overseas. Critics praised her performance, saying she skillfully played a complex character.
In 2004, she starred in the war drama Lakshya, where she played a TV journalist covering the Kargil War. Her biggest success that year was the romance Veer-Zaara, co-starring Shah Rukh Khan. The film was about a love story between an Indian officer and a Pakistani woman. It was the top-grossing Hindi film of 2004.
In 2005, Zinta starred in Salaam Namaste, a comedy-drama about an Indian couple living together in Australia. The film was a big hit, especially outside of India. In 2006, she appeared in Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, a drama about two unhappily married couples in New York. It became one of the biggest Bollywood hits in the overseas market.
New challenges and hiatus (2007–present)
After 2007, Zinta began to explore different kinds of films. She starred in her first English-language film, The Last Lear (2007), alongside the famous actor Amitabh Bachchan. The film won the Best English Film award at the 55th National Film Awards.
In 2008, she played a woman who becomes the sole provider for her family in the film Heroes. Her performance was highly praised. The same year, she starred in the Canadian film Heaven on Earth. She played a young Indian woman who moves to Canada after her marriage and faces great difficulties. For this role, she won the Best Actress award at the Chicago International Film Festival.
After Heaven on Earth, Zinta took a break from acting to focus on her cricket team. In 2011, she started her own production company, PZNZ Media. In 2013, she starred in Ishkq in Paris, a film she also co-wrote and produced. After another break, she appeared in the action-comedy Bhaiaji Superhit (2018). She is set to return to films with Lahore 1947.
Other work
Writing and television
In 2004, Zinta wrote a series of columns for BBC News Online. She wrote about changes in Bollywood and issues affecting women in India. Her columns were very popular with readers around the world.
Zinta has also performed in many stage shows and world tours. In 2004, she was part of the "Temptation 2004" tour with other stars like Shah Rukh Khan, which traveled to over 22 countries.
She made her television debut in 2011 as the host of Guinness World Records – Ab India Todega. She later hosted her own celebrity chat show, Up Close & Personal with PZ. In 2015, she was a judge on the dance reality show Nach Baliye.
Humanitarian work
Zinta is known for her charity work. She supports causes for women in India and has taken part in AIDS awareness campaigns. In 2005, she performed at a concert to raise money for victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.
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She has supported blood donation drives and spoken out against human trafficking. In 2009, for her 34th birthday, she adopted 34 girls from an orphanage in Rishikesh, taking care of their education and other needs. In 2010, she was named a Goodwill Ambassador for UNAIDS in India to help raise awareness about HIV. For her humanitarian work, she received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of East London.
Ownership of cricket teams
In 2008, Zinta and her partners bought the Mohali-based Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket team. They named it Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings). For a time, she was the only female owner of an IPL team. In 2017, she also became the owner of the Stellenbosch Kings in South Africa's T20 league.
Personal life
Zinta often visits her hometown of Shimla. In 2006, she moved into her own home in Mumbai. She has said that she believes in good deeds and karma. In late 2004, she had two close calls. She was near an explosion at a concert in Sri Lanka and was also present during the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.
In 2003, Zinta was a witness in the Bharat Shah court case. She testified about receiving threats during the making of a film. Unlike other witnesses, she did not change her story in court. For her courage, she received the Godfrey Phillips National Bravery Award.
On February 29, 2016, Zinta married her American partner, Gene Goodenough, in Los Angeles. Goodenough is a senior vice-president at a hydroelectric power company. In 2021, they became parents to twins, a boy and a girl, through surrogacy.
Image and artistry
Zinta is known for being straightforward and honest. She is not afraid to speak her mind about social issues. Actor Amitabh Bachchan has praised her for her "drive and guts."
The media often mentions her characteristic dimple. Early in her career, she was described as having a bubbly and outgoing personality. Many of her film roles, like those in Kya Kehna and Salaam Namaste, showed modern women who were independent and broke with tradition. These roles helped change the way women were shown in Hindi films.
Director Farhan Akhtar said she is an actress who can adapt to different roles. Critics have praised her for her energy and natural acting style. American critic Derek Elley has called her "one of Bollywood's best pure actresses."
Filmography and accolades
Zinta has acted in over 30 films. She has won two Filmfare Awards: Best Female Debut for Dil Se.. and Soldier, and Best Actress for Kal Ho Naa Ho.
See also
In Spanish: Preity Zinta para niños
- List of Indian film actresses
- List of people from Himachal Pradesh
