The Dimpled Preity

By: Smitha Nambiar
Wednesday, March 29, 2006

She captivates you with her dazzling dimpled smile, vivaciousness and her next-door girl image. Preity Zinta with her natural disposition comes forward as one of the most endurable actresses in Hindi filmdom. There is something that sets her apart from all the other sizzling babes in Bollywood and it is upon each person to discover that aspect about this pretty lass.

This girl with an unusual name born on January 31st 1974, originally from Delhi is not unaccustomed to being rich and famous. She went to boarding school in Jesus and Mary Simla Convent School, and then to St Bedes College as her father was a naval officer. As a child, Preity was quite a tomboy playing basketball and getting into scrapes with the other young boys in the area. However, that never stopped her from being a good student. In fact, Preity is even a graduate in Criminal Psychology.

Life for Preity was filled with fun and exploration until the age of 13 when her father died in a car accident. Her mother who was with him at the time was severely hurt and was bedridden for two days. This was the most 'turning' point in her life.

Preity changed overnight. While her two brothers (one younger and the other older) were uncontrollable and wept all day, Preity realized she had to grow up. From then on there was no partying or jumping around trees anymore. It was only from the age of 17 that she began to party and have crushes.

Preity is not unknown to the world of glamour and style. She began her mark as a model while in school itself. It was the Liril soap advertisement in the mid 90's and her naughty looks in Cadbury's commercial that brought her to the notice of Shekhar Kapur who at that time was looking out for a fresh face for his film Tara Rum Pum Pum. Though the film never took off, Preity won the attention of all big directors and filmmakers.

She soon bagged the film Soldier (1998) opposite Bobby Deol and Mani Ratnam's Dil Se (1998). Even though the film had Shahrukh Khan and Manisha Koirala in the lead role, Preity as Shahrukh's bubbly fiancee could not be ruled out. She immediately became one of the hot favourites. In fact Preity even bagged the Best Debut Award for Soldier.

This was soon followed by Mission Kashmir (2000), Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega (2000), Chori Chori Chupke Chupke (2001) and Armaan (2003). Preity received great acclaim in Karan Johar's Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003). In fact, it was Kareena Kapoor who was first offered the role. When Kareena rejected the offer, Karan approached Preity, who immediately grabbed the role. And luckily for Preity, the film was a superhit of the year 2003. Preity believes in experimenting and growing as an actress. So, when she was offered Kya Kehna (2000) in which she had to play an unmarried mother, she quickly took up the challenge. Though the subject was unconventional, Preity made sure that she instils in her character the correct dosage of sentimentality and practicality.

Whether it was Koi... Mil Gaya (2003), Lakshya (2004), Dil Ne Jise Aapna Kaha (2004) or the latest film under Yashraj Productions Veer-Zaara (2004), Preity has always left behind an inimitable mark in all her films.

As we all know, celebrity status has it's own negative attributes attached to it. Being so popular, it was but natural for the media to link the actress to various co-stars including model Marc Robinson and Abhishek Bachchan to name a few. However, Preity, with her 'I don't care' attitude has made sure that the scandals and rumour does not harm her career in any manner.

Preity Zinta is sure a star to watch out for. This year will not only bring more films in her kitty, but might also get her more awards and accolades. For all those die hard pans of Preity, the gorgeous beauty will be seen in a film opposite Saif Ali Khan under Yashraj banner and another untitled movie with Shahrukh Khan to name a few. So, let's sit back and watch Preity take on Bollywood with the typical dimpled smile that is so unique to pretty Preity!