Preity Zinta (Hindi: प्रीति ज़िंटा. Pronunced /priːt̪ɪ zɪɳʈaː/ born January 31, 1975)[1] is an Indian film actress. She has appeared in Hindi films of Bollywood, as well as Telugu and English-language movies. After graduating with a degree in criminal psychology, Zinta made her acting debut in Dil Se in 1998 followed by a role in Soldier the same year. These performances earned her a Filmfare Best Female Debut Award, and she was later recognised for her role as a teenage single mother in Kya Kehna (2000). She would subsequently take on a variety of character types, and in doing so has been credited with changing the image of a Hindi film heroine.[2]
Zinta received her first Filmfare Best Actress Award in 2003 for her performance in the drama Kal Ho Naa Ho. She went on to play the lead female role in two consecutive annual top-grossing films in India: the science fiction film Koi... Mil Gaya, her biggest commercial success,[3] and the star-crossed romance Veer-Zaara, which earned her critical acclaim. She was later noted for her portrayal of independent, modern Indian women in Salaam Namaste and Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, top-grossing productions in overseas markets.[4] These accomplishments have established her as a leading actress of Hindi cinema.[5][6]
In addition to movie acting, Zinta has written a series of popular columns for BBC News Online South Asia, is a regular stage performer, and along with boyfriend Ness Wadia she is a co-owner of the Indian Premier League cricket team Kings XI Punjab. She is known in the Indian media for publicly speaking her mind and openly expressing her opinions, occasionally sparking controversy.[7][8] These controversies include her being the only witness not to retract in court her earlier statements against the Indian mafia during the 2003 Bharat Shah case, for which she was awarded the Godfrey Phillips National Bravery Award.
Zinta was born into a Hindu Rajput family from Rohru in Shimla district, Himachal Pradesh.[1] Her father, Durganand Zinta, was an officer in the Indian Army.[9] He died in a car accident when she was 13 years old; the accident also involved her mother, Nilprabha, who was severely injured and consequently remained bedridden for two years. Zinta has stated that the tragic accident and her father's death was a significant turning point in her life, which forced her to mature rapidly.[10] She has two brothers; Deepankar and Manish, a year older and a year younger respectively. Deepankar is a commissioned officer in the Indian Army, while Manish lives in California.[11]
Zinta, who describes herself as a tomboy as a child, has emphasised her father's military background as having a lasting impression on how family life was conducted. He asserted the importance of discipline and punctuality to the children.[12] She studied at the Convent of Jesus and Mary boarding school in Shimla. Although she confesses to loneliness in the boarding school, she noted that it was compensated by her finding a "... perfect set of friends" there.[9][13] As a student, she developed a love for literature, particularly the works of William Shakespeare and poetry.[9] According to Zinta, she enjoyed schoolwork and received good grades; in her free time she played sports, especially basketball.[10]
Upon graduating from the boarding school at age 18, Zinta enrolled at St Bede's College in Shimla. She graduated college with an English honours degree, and then started a graduate programme in psychology.[14] She earned a postgraduate degree in criminal psychology, but later took up modelling.[9] Zinta's first television commercial was for Perk chocolates, the result of a chance meeting with a director at a friend's birthday party in 1996.[9] The director persuaded Zinta to audition for the spot, and she was selected. Afterwards, she appeared in other catalogues and commercials, including one for the soap Liril.[10][14]
Along with Ness Wadia and others, Zinta acquired ownership rights in 2008 for the Mohali-based Twenty20 cricket team of the Indian Premier League (IPL).[79] The group paid $76 million to acquire the franchise, and have since named the team Kings XI Punjab.[80] Zinta is the only woman to own an IPL team, and is the league's youngest owner.[81] She has been involved with launching ticket sales and promoting the team.[81][82] She said, "My involvement with the team is total. I am extremely passionate about our team and I do believe that I am the team's good luck factor, so I want to be there for everything."[81]
Zinta used to visit her native town Shimla when not busy in shooting. In 2006, she moved into her own home in Mumbai.[83] She does not identify with any particular religion. In an interview with The Times of India, she comments, "I believe in good deeds, in karma, I don’t believe in going to temples. For me, religion is very personal. It’s all about having faith ... We have heard and read that all religions are equal. Now I am increasingly believing in this."[84] She narrowly escaped death twice in late 2004: first after an explosion at a Temptation concert in Colombo, Sri Lanka; and second during the Indian Ocean earthquake.[63]
Zinta has been the subject of several controversies.[85] In 2003, as a witness in the Bharat Shah case, she testified against the Indian mafia. Bharat Shah, the financer of one of her movies, Chori Chori Chupke Chupke, was arrested in 2000 for having connections with Chhota Shakeel, a Mumbai underworld boss.[86] Unlike several of her colleagues, Zinta repeated in court her earlier statement that she had received extortion threats from the mafia during the shooting of the film.[87] After her testimony, she was given witness protection and was forced to stay out of the public eye for two months.[88] Thirteen other witnesses before her, including celebrities Salman Khan and Shahrukh Khan, were witnesses in the case but later retracted their earlier statements.[89] Zinta was the only witness who did not become hostile to the prosecution;[89] the nation responded positively to her actions.[90] Consequently, she was the first recipient of Godfrey's Mind of Steel Award at the annual Red and White Bravery Awards, given to her for the "Courageous Act" of standing against the Mumbai Underworld.[90] On receiving the award, 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. I am human. It is not that I fear nothing. But getting over a fear is a continuous process and I have been successful so far."[91] Since 2006, Zinta has been the brand ambassador for the Godfrey Phillips Bravery awards.[74]
Tabloids have often linked Zinta romantically with other Bollywood stars, but she has strongly denied these rumours.[92] In 2000, Zinta began dating model Marc Robinson. They separated one year later, and according to Zinta remained on good terms. Asked in Filmfare about their break-up, she spoke of "very, very fond memories of the times we were together and I'd like to keep it to that".[93] Zinta has dated the Bombay Dyeing heir, businessman Ness Wadia since February 2005.[94] Their relationship is discussed frequently by reporters, who often speculate about their engagement.[95][96] In December 2006, another controversy featured Zinta when Ness Wadia was reported to have attacked construction workers at her residence in Bandra. Reportedly, a woman was critically injured and a child was hurt in the incident.[97] Zinta reacted angrily at hearing these rumours reported in the national news and confronted journalists, criticising their conduct. She challenged the press to deliver proof, and offered Rs 1 crore (Rs 10 million) if an injured woman was found. No evidence was found and the rumour has subsequently been regarded as false.[97]
In March 2007, Zinta was involved in a scandal when actress and singer Suchitra Krishnamurthy cited her as the cause of her divorce from Shekhar Kapur, alleging that Zinta was having an affair with him.[98] Although initially silent on the issue,[98] after another accusation by Krishnamurthy, Zinta replied, "It is unfortunate that I am bearing the brunt of someone else’s paranoia. She’s clearly unstable and I wish her a speedy recovery."[98] She issued a statement that she had met Kapur only five times in ten years and publicly demanded that he step forward and clear her of the accusation.[99] Thereafter, the controversy came to an end.[100]
