Preity Zinta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Preity G Zinta
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Preity 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 |
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| Years active | 1997–present |
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Full list |
| Spouse(s) |
Gene Goodenough
(m. 2016) |
| Children | 2 |
| Awards | Full list |
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Preity G Zinta (pronounced [ˈpriːt̪i ˈzɪɳʈa]; born 31 January 1975) is a famous Indian actress and businesswoman. She is best known for her work in Hindi films, also known as Bollywood. After finishing her studies in English and a special type of psychology, Preity started acting in 1998.
She quickly became a leading actress in Bollywood, known for playing strong and independent characters. Her roles often challenged traditional ideas. Preity has won many awards for her acting, including the Filmfare Award for Best Actress for her role in Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003). She also starred in two very successful films, Koi... Mil Gaya (2003) and Veer-Zaara (2004).
Besides acting, Preity is also a social activist and a TV presenter. She owns parts of cricket teams, like the Punjab Kings in India and the Stellenbosch Kings in South Africa. Preity is known for speaking her mind, which has sometimes led to public discussions. She was even honored for her bravery in speaking up against dangerous groups in 2004.
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Preity Zinta's Early Life and Family
Preity Zinta was born on January 31, 1975, in a Hindu family from Shimla district, Himachal Pradesh. Her father, Durganand Zinta, was an officer in the Indian Army. Sadly, he died in a car accident when Preity was just thirteen years old. Her mother, Nilprabha, was also badly hurt and had to stay in bed for two years after the accident. Preity has said that her father's death was a very important moment in her life, making her grow up quickly.
She has two brothers, Deepankar and Manish. Deepankar is also an officer in the Indian Army, and Manish lives in California. Preity describes herself as having been a "tomboy" when she was a child. She often talks about how her father's military background taught her the importance of discipline and being on time.
School Days and Studies
Preity went to the Convent of Jesus and Mary boarding school in Shimla. Even though she felt a bit lonely at boarding school, she made "perfect friends" there. She loved to read, especially the plays of William Shakespeare and poetry. Preity enjoyed her schoolwork and got good grades. In her free time, she loved playing sports, especially basketball.
After boarding school, Preity went to St. Bede's College in Shimla. She earned a degree in English and then started studying psychology. She later got a special degree in criminal psychology, which is about understanding why people commit crimes. However, she eventually decided to try modeling.
Preity's first TV commercial was for Perk chocolates. This happened by chance when she met a director at a friend's birthday party in 1996. The director asked her to try out for the commercial, and she got the part! After that, she appeared in other ads, including one for Liril soap.
Preity Zinta's Acting Journey
Starting Out in Films (1998–1999)
In 1997, Preity met director Shekhar Kapur when she went with a friend to an audition. He asked her to audition too, and after seeing her, he was sure she should become an actress. Her first planned movie, Tara Rum Pum Pum, didn't happen. But Kapur later suggested her for director Mani Ratnam's film Dil Se.. (1998). This movie was a romantic thriller. Preity often says that when she joined the film industry, her friends joked that she would just "wear white saris and dance in the rain." This made her want to play many different kinds of roles.
Preity started filming Kya Kehna with director Kundan Shah, but this movie was released later in 2000. So, her first movie to come out was Dil Se.., where she acted alongside Shah Rukh Khan and Manisha Koirala. She played Preeti Nair, a middle-class girl from Delhi who was Shah Rukh Khan's fiancée. Even though her role was short, only about twenty minutes, people noticed her. Her scene where she asked Shah Rukh Khan, "Are you a virgin?" became very famous. She was even nominated for an award for this role.
Her second movie in 1998 was Soldier, an action-drama that became a big hit. Preity won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut for her performances in both Dil Se.. and Soldier.
After that, Preity acted in two Telugu language films, Premante Idera (1998) and Raja Kumarudu (1999). Then she played the main role in Sangharsh (1999), a thriller. Even though Sangharsh didn't do well at the box office, critics praised Preity's acting. One newspaper said her performance was "amazing" and that she was "all set to shock everybody with her stark performance."
Becoming a Star (2000–2002)
Preity's first movie in 2000 was the drama Kya Kehna. This film was an unexpected success and helped Preity become even more recognized. She played Priya Bakshi, a single mother who faces challenges from society. This role earned her many award nominations, including her first nomination for Best Actress. She also received good reviews for her role in the romantic comedy Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega that year. Next, she appeared with Sanjay Dutt and Hrithik Roshan in Mission Kashmir (2000).
In 2001, Preity acted with Sunny Deol in the action film Farz. This role didn't get good reviews, and the movie wasn't a success. Later that year, the family drama Chori Chori Chupke Chupke was released. Critics had mixed feelings about the film, but they praised Preity's performance. She received another nomination for Best Supporting Actress for this movie.
Preity had two more films released in 2001, including Farhan Akhtar's Dil Chahta Hai. This movie showed the lives of three young friends (Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan, and Akshaye Khanna) as they grew up. Preity played Shalini, Aamir Khan's love interest, who was unsure about her upcoming marriage. Dil Chahta Hai was popular with critics because it showed a more realistic side of city life in India. It won the award for Best Feature Film in Hindi. Preity's acting was described as "casual and appealing," and "beautiful and vibrant."
In 2002, Preity worked again with director Kundan Shah in the family drama Dil Hai Tumhaara. She played Shalu, an adopted daughter who really wanted love. Preity felt connected to this role because the character was a bit rebellious. Even though the movie didn't make much money, critics loved Preity's acting. One critic said she "steals the show with a sterling performance."
Becoming a Top Actress (2003–2007)
Preity's career really took off in 2003. She starred in India's three highest-earning films that year: The Hero: Love Story of a Spy, Koi... Mil Gaya, and Kal Ho Naa Ho.
The Hero was an action drama where Preity played Reshma, a village girl who falls in love with a secret agent. This movie was the most expensive Hindi film ever made at that time.
Next, she starred in Armaan, a drama set in a hospital. Preity played Sonia Kapoor, a wife with a complex mind. This role was written just for her, and she felt it was her best performance so far. Critics praised her acting, with one calling her a "peppy scene-stealer." She was nominated for awards for playing a challenging role.
Then came Rakesh Roshan's science-fiction film Koi... Mil Gaya. Preity played Nisha, a young woman who becomes friends with and falls in love with a young man who meets an alien. Critics called her performance "fresh and inspired." This movie became India's most popular film of the year.
Finally, in Nikhil Advani's romantic drama Kal Ho Naa Ho, Preity played Naina Catherine Kapur, an Indian-American girl living in New York City who falls for a man with a serious heart condition. This film was a huge hit both in India and overseas. Critics loved Kal Ho Naa Ho, and many said Preity's "astounding performance" was key to the film's success. Preity won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress for her role in Kal Ho Naa Ho.
In 2004, Preity played TV journalist Romila Dutta in Farhan Akhtar's war drama Lakshya, with Hrithik Roshan. Her character was based on a real reporter who covered the 1999 Kargil War. Preity said this was the hardest film she had worked on and it made her respect journalists even more. The film was praised by critics, but Preity's performance received mixed reviews.
For his romantic film Veer-Zaara (2004), director Yash Chopra wanted an actress who could change her look and personality. He chose Preity, who was known for playing modern characters. She played Zaara Haayat Khan, a strong Pakistani woman whose love story with an Indian officer lasts for thirty years. The film was a big success and was named Best Film at major Indian award shows. It was the highest-earning Hindi film of that year, both in India and abroad. Preity had to learn the Urdu language for her role. Critics praised her performance, with one calling her "the most interesting young actress of her generation."
In 2005, Preity starred in the comedy Khullam Khulla Pyaar Karen, which didn't do well. However, critics and audiences liked Siddharth Anand's comedy-drama Salaam Namaste more. In this film, Preity and Saif Ali Khan played a modern Indian couple living together in Australia who face an unexpected pregnancy. This was the first Indian film shot entirely in Australia and became the highest-earning Indian film outside of India that year. Preity was nominated for many awards for playing Ambar Malhotra, an independent young woman who moves to Melbourne and works as a radio host. Critics said Preity gave "her most accomplished performance to date."
Preity continued her success in 2006 with Karan Johar's drama Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna. This film was one of the biggest hits in India and earned a lot of money overseas, becoming the biggest Bollywood success abroad at that time.
Preity then appeared in Jaan-E-Mann (2006), a romantic musical. She played Piya, a woman loved by two men. The film received mixed reviews and didn't do well at the box office. Even though her role was small, people complimented her performance and looks. Her next film, Jhoom Barabar Jhoom (2007), was a comedy that also didn't do well, and critics didn't like her performance.
Trying New Roles (2007–2008)
After some less successful commercial films, Preity decided to try working in art films, which are more realistic and artistic movies. She acted with Amitabh Bachchan in her first English-language film, The Last Lear (2007). Preity played Shabnam, an actress working on a new film while dealing with a difficult relationship. The film was shown at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival and received good reviews. Critics praised Preity for her mature performance. The Last Lear won the award for Best English Film. Preity later said she was happy she tried art films.
Preity then starred in Heroes (2008), a road trip movie about two students delivering letters from army soldiers who died in the 1999 Kargil war to their families. Preity played Kuljeet Kaur, a war widow who becomes the only one to support her family and raise her son. To prepare for the role, Preity learned the local accent and ways of a Punjabi woman. Her performance received great reviews, with one critic saying she brought "gravitas and dignity" to the role.
In the same year, she played the main role of Chand in Deepa Mehta's Canadian film Heaven on Earth. This film was shown at many film festivals, and Preity received some of the best reviews of her career. One critic said she showed a "stunning psychological transformation." Her performance won her the Silver Hugo Award for Best Actress at the 2008 Chicago International Film Festival for her "strong yet subtle performance." She was also nominated for another important award in Canada.
Taking a Break and Coming Back (2009–Present)
After Heaven on Earth, Preity took a two-year break from films. She later explained that she wanted to focus on her work with her cricket team. In 2011, she started her own film production company, PZNZ Media. Two years later, she starred in her first film under her own company, the romantic comedy Ishkq in Paris. Preity also helped write this film. It was a collaboration between India and France, and Preity played a half-Indian, half-French woman living in Paris. She had to learn French and follow a strict fitness plan for the role. The film didn't do well at the box office and received mostly negative reviews, but some critics liked Preity's performance.
After another five-year break, Preity starred in the action comedy Bhaiaji Superhit (2018) with Sunny Deol. She played an energetic wife from Varanasi. In 2020, Preity appeared in an episode of the American TV show Fresh Off the Boat. She was supposed to star in a spin-off series about her character's family, but it didn't happen.
After another break, Preity will return to Hindi cinema in a historical drama film called Lahore 1947, directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, where she will act with Sunny Deol again.
Other Work and Activities
Writing Columns
In 2004, Preity started writing columns for BBC News Online South Asia. She was happy to be part of this, saying she is "pretty outspoken and has her own view on every subject." Her first column, "The changing face of Bollywood," talked about how Bollywood had changed over ten years. It became one of the most read stories on the website that day. Her other columns were more personal, discussing her fame, fans, and fears as an actor. Her last column described two dangerous situations she experienced in late 2004.
Stage Shows and TV Hosting
Preity has performed in many stage shows and world tours since 2001. Her first world tour, "Craze 2001," was a series of concerts across the US with other stars like Anil Kapoor and Aamir Khan. In 2002, she was part of "From India With Love" in the UK, performing with Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan for over 100,000 people.
Her biggest world tour was "Temptation 2004," where she joined Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukerji, and others. This show was performed in more than 22 countries and became Bollywood's most famous international concert. She also performed in "Heat 2006" and "The Unforgettable Tour" (2008). In 2012, Preity returned to the stage for "Temptation Reloaded" in Jakarta.
In 2011, Preity started her TV career as the host of Guinness World Records – Ab India Todega on Colors Channel. This was an Indian version of the famous Guinness Book of World Records show. Critics praised her hosting, saying she was "vivacious" and knew "exactly when she needs to be serious and when she can crack jokes." Later that year, Preity hosted her own chat show, Up Close & Personal with PZ, where she interviewed celebrities. In 2015, Preity was a judge on the dance reality show Nach Baliye.
Helping Others
Throughout her career, Preity Zinta has been involved with many charities, especially those that support women in India. She has also helped with campaigns to raise awareness about AIDS and to clean up the city of Mumbai.
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In 2005, Preity performed at the "HELP! Telethon Concert" to raise money for people affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. The next year, she became an ambassador for a bravery movement and attended a blood donation camp. She encouraged people to donate blood, saying, "Donating blood doesn't kill one but goes on to save somebody's life."
In 2007, Preity visited an army training base to encourage soldiers and met children with disabilities at a special school. In August, she painted for a charity that helps street children. In December, she joined efforts to fight against human trafficking in India, speaking about the need to protect victims and punish those responsible. In 2009, on her 34th birthday, Preity adopted 34 girls from an orphanage and promised to pay for their education, food, and clothes.
In 2010, Preity became the brand ambassador for The Loomba Trust, an organization that helps widows and their children. She said that because she lost her father at a young age, she understood the problems faced by widowed women. Later that year, she became a Goodwill Ambassador for the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) in India. She wanted to help spread awareness about HIV prevention and fight against discrimination. In October 2010, Preity received an honorary doctorate degree from the University of East London for her contributions to culture and her humanitarian work.
Owning Cricket Teams
In 2008, Preity Zinta, along with some partners, bought the rights to a Twenty20 cricket team called Kings XI Punjab (now called Punjab Kings) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). They paid $76 million for the team. Until 2009, Preity was the only woman to own an IPL team and was the youngest owner in the league. She has been very involved in promoting the team and selling tickets. She said, "My involvement with the team is total. I am extremely passionate about our team." In 2017, she also became the owner of the Stellenbosch Kings cricket team in South Africa. In 2021, Preity and her partners also bought a team in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), which was renamed Saint Lucia Kings.
Preity Zinta's Personal Life
When Preity is not busy with work, she likes to visit her hometown of Shimla. In 2006, she moved into her own home in Mumbai. She believes in good deeds and karma, and she sees religion as a very personal matter. She believes that all religions are equal. Preity had two close calls in late 2004: once during an explosion at a concert in Sri Lanka, and another time during the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.
Preity has sometimes been in the news for speaking her mind. In 2003, she showed great courage by speaking up in court against dangerous groups. Unlike many others, Preity bravely repeated her statements about receiving threats during the filming of her movie Chori Chori Chupke Chupke. Because of her bravery, she was given protection and had to stay out of the public eye for two months. She was the only person who did not change her statements in court. Her actions were widely praised across the country. She received the first "Godfrey's Mind of Steel Award" for her "courageous act" of standing up against these groups. She said, "To be brave is not to be fearless. It is when you fear and you get over it, then you can be called brave." Since 2006, Preity has been the ambassador for the Godfrey Phillips Bravery awards.
Newspapers have often linked Preity with other Bollywood stars, but she has always denied these rumors. In 2000, Preity dated model Marc Robinson, but they separated the next year and remained friends. From 2005 to 2009, Preity dated businessman Ness Wadia. Their relationship was often talked about in the media.
On February 29, 2016, Preity married her American partner, Gene Goodenough, in a private ceremony in Los Angeles. Gene Goodenough works as a Senior Vice-president for Finance at a US-based power company. After getting married, Preity moved to Los Angeles but visits India often. In 2021, she and her husband became parents to twins, a boy and a girl, with the help of a surrogate mother.
See also
In Spanish: Preity Zinta para niños
- List of Indian film actresses
- List of people from Himachal Pradesh
