Bubbly, Lucky, Gutsy, Pretty

Preity Zinta began as a model doing ads in magazines and was discoverd by director Shekhar Kapoor while she was studying Psychology at a Bombay university (a degree she completed, btw). Not sure if acting was something she wanted to do, Preity decided that a flip of a coin would decide if she would take the job offered by Kapoor or do something else. The rest, as they say, is history. The flip of the coin gave us one of the most admirable heroines in the industry.

While I think Preity Zinta is a great actress, it's her off-the-set persona I like more. Preity is unique in Bollywood because she didn't have any familial connections in the industy. (Bollywood is extremely nepotistic. Most of the current actors have parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, or cousins in the industry. Shah Rukh Khan, like Preity, did not have any connections when he forged his way to become the King of Bollywood). She's also very grounded and knows that whatever time she has in the spotlight and whatever time she has to live is limited and a blessing. This world view was shaped at 13, when her father was killed in a car accident. And Preity has had her own brushes with death. She was vacationing on the island of Phuket when the 2004 Tsunami struck.



Often described as bubbly, chatty, and a bit of a tomboy, Preity Zinta sits at the top of Bollywood, signing films with some of the most established directors and production companies. Preity's recent success and acclaim is well deserved for the talented actress, who one journalist called "the only man in the industry." [This moniker was given to her for being the only BW actor--male or female--to testify against the underworld and its industry power in court].

My favorite Preity films:
Dil Se (1998)--with SRK and Manisha Koirala
Mission Kashmir (2000)--with Hrithik Roshan and Sanjay Dutt
Chori Chori Chupke Chupke (2001)--with Salman Khan and Rani Mukherjee
Dil Chahta Hai (2001)--with Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan, and Akshaye Khanna
Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003)--with SRK and Saif Ali Khan
Lakshya (2004)--with Hrithik Roshan
Veer-Zaara (2004)--with SRK and Rani Mukerjee
Salaam Namaste (2005)--with Saif Ali Khan

Up next: Hrithik Roshan