Friday, May 9, 2008
Preity Zinta Profile
Preity Zinta Profile
PREITY ZINTA PROFILE:
Original Name: Preetam Singh Zinta
Screen Name: Preity Zinta
Born: January 31st , 1974
Birth Place: Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India
Nationality: Indian
Zodiac Sign: Aquarius
Height: 5'5" or 1.65 m
Weight: 52 kgs
Hair Color: Black
Occupation: Model & Actress
FAMILY:
Father: Durganand Zinta
Mother: Nilprabha Zinta
Siblings: Two brothers: Deepanker Zinta and Manish Zinta
Marital status: single
Boyfriend: Ness Wadia
Ex-Boyfriend: Dated Marc Robinson but broke up
Education: Graduated in Criminal Psychology (Bombay University)
Languages Known: Hindi, English
Hobbies: Fitness
FAVOURITIES:
Actors: Guru Dutt, Sanjay Dutt, Aamir Khan, Shahrukh Khan & Al Pacino
Actresses: Madhubala, Waheeda Rehman, Sridevi
Color: Electric blue
Perfumes: Envy, Gucci for Men
Clothes: string pyjamas and anything comfortable
Food: Home-made food and ice-creams
Other facts: she hates waking up early in the morning
Debut Film: Dil Se (1998)
Address: C/10A, Ranwar, Waroda Rd, Off. Hill Rd,Bandra (W), Mumbai - 400050
ENTRY TO THE BOLLYWOOD FILM INDUSTRY:
Preity Zinta (born 31 January 1975) is
an award-winning popular Indian actress who appears in Bollywood
movies. She is among the most successful actresses in the industry, and
is regarded as one of the biggest names in India. Balancing commercial
successes with critically acclaimed performances she has established
herself as one of the most prominent leading actresses of Hindi cinema.
Zinta is placed on the top in the list of the biggest actresses of this
generation.
CAREER:
EARLY CAREER:
Zinta
met Shekhar Kapur when she accompanied her friend to an audition and
was auditioned too. Coincidentally, after Kapur saw her audition he
insisted on her to become an actress. Zinta was meant to make her acting
debut with Kapur's Tara Rum Pum Pum opposite Hrithik Roshan but the
film never took off. Later, Kapur recommended her for Mani Ratnam's "Dil Se".
Technically her first film was Kundan Shah's "Kya Kehna" but
it got delayed till 2000. The delay of another film Soldier meant that
she made her acting debut with Dil Se (1998). The film was her
breakthrough role and she won the Filmfare Best Debut Award for her
performance, which was only twenty minutes long. This was followed by
the hit Soldier and Sangharsh, which did not do well at the Box Office,
but gained her recognition as an actress. Zinta also starred in two
Telugu films.
BREAKTHROUGH:
Her
first release in 2000 was the hit Kya Kehna. Critics began to take
notice of her after her performance in this film. Her role as a teenage
single mother was well acclaimed and she received various nominations in
the best actress category.
She
was known for enacting diverse roles. Roles like the mentioned CBI
officer in Sangharsh, the teenage single mother in Kya Kehna and the
prostitute in Chori Chori Chupke Chupke were very different from typical
roles made by actresses in that point of time, and won her critical
acclaim.
Later, she had successes with the films "Mission Kashmir" (2000)
which was the third highest grossing film of the year and Dil Chahta
Hai (2001) which entered into the top five highest grossing films of the
year.
In 2002, she was
the main protagonist in Dil Hai Tumhaara. The film marked an important
milestone in her career. Although the film did not do well at the box
office, her role as an adopted daughter was much appreciated and her
performance was well acclaimed. Consequently, she became sought-after by
some of the biggest filmmakers in the following years.
SUCCUSS:
The
year 2003 proved to be a very good one for Zinta, as she was the female
lead in three of the year's highest grossing films: The Hero: Love
Story of a Spy which is considered as the most expensive Hindi film ever
made, "Koi... Mil Gaya" and "Kal Ho Naa Ho".
She won many awards for her role as the insecure and angry
Indian-American girl in Kal Ho Naa Ho. Her performance in the film also
won her the Filmfare Best Actress Award.
This
was followed in 2004 by the moderately successful film Lakshya which
was the fourth highest grossing film of the year, and for which she
received mixed reviews. Latter, Yash Chopra signed her for the role of
Zaara in the love legend "Veer-Zaara",
which was the biggest hit of the year. Veer-Zaara was her second
highest grossing film in a row, and marked her entry into Yash Raj
Films, which is considered to be one of the biggest production houses in
the Bollywood industry. All these achievements promoted her as one of
the biggest stars in the industry.
She had two releases in 2005: Khullam Khulla Pyaar Karen and "Salaam Namaste".
The former received poor reviews at the box office, while the latter
did fairly well in India and was one of the biggest hits overseas.She
also received various nominations for Best Actress in different award
ceremonies for her performance in the latter, where she played the role
of a single modern young woman who leaves India to make her own life in
Australia.
Zinta was welcomed with similar success the following year in 2006. Her first release "Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna"
released in August 2006 and became one of the biggest box office hits.
She played a stylish and modern fashion magazine editor in this film,
which was also well received. Her most recent film Jaan-E-Mann performed
poorly at the box office.
In 2007, Zinta was offered a role in the foreign film Marigold, but turned it down.
PERSONAL LIFE:
FAMILY:
Born
in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, she hails from a family of Rohru in Shimla
District.Zinta initially planned to do an English honours but later
decided to pursue psychology. Zinta also attended Bombay University.
After earning a degree in criminal psychology at the St. Bedes College,
Zinta began her career as a model and appeared in several commercials.
Her
father, Durganand Zinta was an officer in the Indian Army. Durganand
Zinta died when Preity was thirteen, in a car accident which also
involved her mother, Nilprabha Zinta. Her mother broke many bones in the
accident, including her spine. Her mother was bedridden for two years
because of this incident. Zinta has two brothers, Deepankar Zinta and
Manish Zinta, a year older and a year younger, respectively. Deepankar
is a commissioned officer in the Indian Army, while Manish is settled in
Los Angeles.
RELATIONSHIPS:
Zinta has been dating the Bombay Dyeing heir, Ness Wadia since
February 2005.In 2007, there was an alleged crisis in Preity's
relationship with Wadia, due to the alleged affair with Shekhar Kapur
(see controversies), and the supposedly cold vibes between Preity and
Wadia's mother Maureen. Maureen Wadia reacted to the rumours in an
interview. She ended up with the rumours, saying: "I'm delighted at my
son's choice". In April 2007 Zinta attended an event along with Wadia,
which proved that they are together despite the mentioned rumours.
Gossip has also linked her with many other Bollywood stars, but Zinta has strongly denied all these rumours.
COMMITMENTS:
REPRESENTATION:
In
May 2006 she and Karan Johar received an invitation to represent
Bollywood at the Cannes Film Festival. They took this opportunity to
promote Johar's latest film Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna. She attended the
festival the following year in 2007.
In 2007, She co-hosted the 52nd Filmfare Awards ceremony, along with Shahrukh Khan, Karan Johar and Juhi Chawla.
In 2007 she was the guest of honour in an art event called Spandan 2. The event took place in the famous Mumbai art gallery Articulate. Also in 2007, Zinta was chosen as the first brand ambassador for GoAir, a new Airway service.
STAGE SHOWS:
In 2007, She co-hosted the 52nd Filmfare Awards ceremony, along with Shahrukh Khan, Karan Johar and Juhi Chawla.
In 2007 she was the guest of honour in an art event called Spandan 2. The event took place in the famous Mumbai art gallery Articulate. Also in 2007, Zinta was chosen as the first brand ambassador for GoAir, a new Airway service.
STAGE SHOWS:
Zinta
joined a group of top stars (Shahrukh Khan, Rani Mukerji, Saif Ali
Khan, Arjun Rampal, and Priyanka Chopra) in the Temptation 2004 concert,
which was an international success.
In 2006, Zinta toured again, participating and performing in the successful Heat 2006 concert around the world, along with Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan, Sushmita Sen and Celina Jaitley.
In 2006, Zinta toured again, participating and performing in the successful Heat 2006 concert around the world, along with Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan, Sushmita Sen and Celina Jaitley.
HUMANITARIAN WORKS:
In
2005, along with other Bollywood stars, Preity performed at the HELP!
Telethon Concert to help raise money for the victims of the 2004 Indian
Ocean earthquake.
In July
2006, Zinta participated in a blood donation camp organised by the
Rotary Club of Delhi in association with Godfrey Philips Bravery Awards
and donated blood. She supported the promote of this humanitarian cause,
saying: "Donating blood doesn't kill one but goes on to save somebody's
life. Blood donation also creates a universal world. Once blood is
donated it becomes universal and might be used by anyone in need,
irrespective of community, caste or region. It binds people together."
Apart from it, Zinta also lend her support to the cause of women
empowerment for Godfrey Philips.
Zinta
donated her winnings, from her 2007 appearance on Kaun Banega Crorepati
to the Shimla District Red Cross Society in Himachel Pradesh, along
with Rani Mukerji. She donated Rs 25 lakhs to the society in support of
its welfare activities.
CONTROVERSIES:
BHARAT SHAH CASE:
In
2003, Zinta was a witness in the Bharat Shah case and his links to the
Mumbai mafia. She stuck by her statement that she received a threatening
phone call from the mafia while shooting the film Chori Chori Chupke
Chupke (2000). She was given police protection and was forced to stay
out of the public eye for months. Many other celebrities including
Salman Khan and Shahrukh Khan were witnesses in the case but they soon
retracted their statements. Zinta was the only witness not to have
turned hostile.
NESS WADIA CASE:
In
2006, Zinta's boyfriend Ness Wadia was reported to have beaten up some
construction workers in her building. The rumours also reported that a
woman was critically injured and a child was hurt. Zinta was very angry
at hearing these rumours, and had repeatedly shouted at the media very
much about the incident, claiming it wasn't true. Zinta even offered 1
crore to whoever could find an injured woman. The press came up with no
findings, and this rumour was considered to be false.
ALLEGED AFFAIR:
Actress
and Singer Suchitra Krishnamurthy has blamed Preity Zinta for her
divorce with Shekhar Kapur, alleging that Preity was having an affair
with her husband.
It wasn't the first time that Krishnamurthy has accused Zinta in this issue. Previously, she had written the same in a personal blog. However, initially Zinta kept a dignified silence and refused to talk about the issue, waiting it to disappear for itself.
Krishnamurthy also stated, that after the first time she accused her in the blog, Zinta used to call her every day and try to explain to her that she was not responsible for anything, and had nothing with her husband.
When Krishnamurthy accused Zinta for the second time in an interview, Zinta was travelling and got to know that only when her business manager Tanuja Mehra informed her about it. Zinta denied all the accusations saying, "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."
Preity's last reaction was relatively calm "I really don't understand why is the media going crazy about something that does not even exist" she said. She stated that she had met Kapur only five times in 10 years. In regard to Krishnamurthy, Zinta said, "Everyone who is a nobody wants to be somebody at the expense of famous people like me." Since then, apparently this controversy has come to an end.
It wasn't the first time that Krishnamurthy has accused Zinta in this issue. Previously, she had written the same in a personal blog. However, initially Zinta kept a dignified silence and refused to talk about the issue, waiting it to disappear for itself.
Krishnamurthy also stated, that after the first time she accused her in the blog, Zinta used to call her every day and try to explain to her that she was not responsible for anything, and had nothing with her husband.
When Krishnamurthy accused Zinta for the second time in an interview, Zinta was travelling and got to know that only when her business manager Tanuja Mehra informed her about it. Zinta denied all the accusations saying, "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."
Preity's last reaction was relatively calm "I really don't understand why is the media going crazy about something that does not even exist" she said. She stated that she had met Kapur only five times in 10 years. In regard to Krishnamurthy, Zinta said, "Everyone who is a nobody wants to be somebody at the expense of famous people like me." Since then, apparently this controversy has come to an end.
IN THE MEDIA:
Zinta has the most success among all the Bollywood actresses, having the highest success ratio of 65%. Zinta's trademark has been her dimple.
In 2003, Zinta was placed first on the Rediff's Top Bollywood Female Stars. In the following years, she was placed at number 2 three years in a row (2004-2006).Zinta was also ranked number two on the Filmfare "Top Actresses" list (2003-2004) and number three later on (2005-2006).
In 2007, Zinta was on the Rediff list of 'Bollywood's Most Beautiful Actresses'. She was also featured in the list of Rediff's Bollywood's Best Dressed Women and listed #41 by UK magazine Eastern Eye one of "Asia's Sexiest Women" (Sept/ 2006). Zinta was also the first Indian actress on the cover of the first issue of Marie Claire magazine to be sold in India.
Zinta appeared twice in the first season of Karan Johar's talk show Koffee with Karan. Her first appearance was in 2004 with Saif Ali Khan, and the second time was in March 2005, along with Abhishek Bachchan. She was also a guest judge in Indian Idol 2.
In 2006, she also modeled and walked the ramp for Manish Malhotra's fashion display Fashion Week 2006, titled Freedom, along with actress Kajol.
PREITY ZINTA TRIVIA:
* Model and TV anchor Graduated in Psychology Turned down the lead in Marigold (2004).
* Has won over 4 awards for Kya Kehna and 7 Awards for Kal Ho Na ho.
* Critics began to take notice of her after her performance in Kya Khena.
* Won Best Actress at Stardust Awards for 'Veer Zaara.'
* She won the IIFA Style Diva Award (2005).
* Is a major fan of the hit TV series The Simpsons
* Her father, Durganand Zinta was an officer in the Indian Army. Durganand Zinta died when Preity was thirteen, in a car accident in which her mother, Nilprabha Zinta was also involved. Her mother was bedridden because of this incident.
* Has two brothers, Deepanker Zinta and Manish Zinta, a year older and a year younger respectively.
* One of her brothers is a commissioned officer in the Indian Army.
* Has written three columns for BBC South Asia.
* She joined a group of top stars (Shahrukh Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Arjun Rampal, Rani Mukherjee, and Priyanka Chopra) in the Temptation 2004 concert, which was a huge international success.
* Appeared in Manish Malhotra fashion show Freedom (2006).
* In May 2006, along with Karan Johar she received an invitation to represent Bollywood at the Cannes Film Festival. They took this opportunity to promote the film Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006).
* When not shooting she used to return to her home town Shimla. She recently moved into her own home in Mumbai, which she bought in mid-2005.
* Her favorite perfume is Envy by Gucci.
* Her good friends in the industry include Abhishek Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan, and Gauri Khan. Very close friends with actor Hrithik Roshan and his wife 'Suzanne Khan' .
* Listed #41 by UK magazine Eastern Eye one of "Asia's Sexiest Women" (Sept/ 2006).
* Previously, when she was not shooting she used to return to her native town Shimla. Zinta recently moved into her own home in Mumbai, which she bought in mid-2005.
* Zinta narrowly escaped death twice in late 2004, once after an explosion at a Temptation concert in Colombo, and later in the Indian Ocean Tsunami.
PREITY ZINTA PERSONAL QUOTES:
"I
lost my father when I was 13-years-old. He was a great man, my father,
and very intelligent. I love him very much. I believe it's very
important that parents have a personal connection with their children.
It helps kids feel more secure, have a feeling of family, makes them
feel loved."
"Whenever I came across something that influenced me, I wanted to be that. So it varied from an astronaut, airhostess, army girl, to truck driver. Once, I wanted to be a nun - my mother wanted me to change schools after that..."
"I am single and desperately looking for a good man in my life. I did have major crushes when I was younger but no serious relationship."
"I want to bring a change and do something new and different in my profession, but in the beginning I'll have to toe line, I want to be known as a performer not a star."
"I am proud to be part of today's Bollywood. I love dancing and lip synching to our songs."
"To act, you must know pain. You must know what it means to be in love, what it means to be rejected."
"You know what's the worst part about being an actress? It's the pressure to look gorgeous all the time and to behave perfectly. But I'm not perfect, nobody is."
"Acting can truly take a toll on your nerves. I mean we have to be larger than life. Worse, I've seen actors acting off the sets too."
On the changing face of Indian cinema "At one time I wondered if I was doing the right films, today I know I have made the right choices. Indian cinema is changing, not step by step but by leaps. New blood is coming in, mindsets are changing and our exposure to the world is ever- increasing. I am glad these positive changes are happening when I am in the industry and not ten years from now."
On love at first sight "It is superficial to fall in love with someone looking at their face. To me I need to discover the person. I would never look at someone and exclaim - He is the one!"
"Whenever I came across something that influenced me, I wanted to be that. So it varied from an astronaut, airhostess, army girl, to truck driver. Once, I wanted to be a nun - my mother wanted me to change schools after that..."
"I am single and desperately looking for a good man in my life. I did have major crushes when I was younger but no serious relationship."
"I want to bring a change and do something new and different in my profession, but in the beginning I'll have to toe line, I want to be known as a performer not a star."
"I am proud to be part of today's Bollywood. I love dancing and lip synching to our songs."
"To act, you must know pain. You must know what it means to be in love, what it means to be rejected."
"You know what's the worst part about being an actress? It's the pressure to look gorgeous all the time and to behave perfectly. But I'm not perfect, nobody is."
"Acting can truly take a toll on your nerves. I mean we have to be larger than life. Worse, I've seen actors acting off the sets too."
On the changing face of Indian cinema "At one time I wondered if I was doing the right films, today I know I have made the right choices. Indian cinema is changing, not step by step but by leaps. New blood is coming in, mindsets are changing and our exposure to the world is ever- increasing. I am glad these positive changes are happening when I am in the industry and not ten years from now."
On love at first sight "It is superficial to fall in love with someone looking at their face. To me I need to discover the person. I would never look at someone and exclaim - He is the one!"
PREITY ZINTA FILMOGRAPHY:
AS ACTRESS:
* The Last Lear (2007) (post-production)
* Jhoom Barabar Jhoom (2007) .... Alvira Khan
* Jaan-E-Mann (2006) .... Piya Goyal/Preity Zintakova
* Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006) .... Riya Saran
* Krrish (2006) .... Nisha (Special App)
* Alag: He Is Different.... He Is Alone... (2006) .... Special Appearance (Song)
* Salaam Namaste (2005) .... Ambar "Ambi" Malhotra
* Khullam Khulla Pyaar Karen (2005) .... Priti Damani
* Veer-Zaara (2004) .... Zaara Hayaat Khan
* Dil Ne Jise Apna Kaha (2004) .... Dr. Parineeta (Pari)
* Lakshya (2004) .... Romila "Romi" Dutta
* Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003) .... Naina Catherine Kapur Patel
* Koi... Mil Gaya (2003) .... Nisha
* Armaan (2003) .... Sonia Kapoor
* The Hero: Love Story of a Spy (2003) .... Reshma/Ruksar
* Dil Hai Tumhaara (2002) .... Shalu
* Yeh Raaste Hain Pyaar Ke (2001) .... Sakshi
* Dil Chahta Hai (2001) .... Shalini
* Chori Chori Chupke Chupke (2001) .... Madhubala
* Farz (2001) .... Kajal Singh
* Mission Kashmir (2000) .... Sufiya Parvez
* Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega... (2000) (as Priety Zinta) .... Jahnvi
* Kya Kehna (2000) .... Priya Baxi
* Dillagi (1999) .... Rani (Guest Appearance)
* Sangharsh (1999) .... CBI Officer Reet Oberoi
* Raja Kumarudu (1999) .... Rani
* Premante Idera (1998) (as Preity Zintar) .... Jannu
* Soldier (1998/II) .... Preeti Singh
* Dil Se.. (1998) .... Preeti Nair
AWARDS:
Awards of the International Indian Film Academy:
for: Dil Chahta Hai (2001)
* 2001-Nominated-Popular Award-Actress in a Leading Role
for: Kya Kehna (2000)
Filmfare Awards:
* 2006-Nominated-Filmfare Award-Best Actress
for: Salaam Namaste (2005)
* 2005- Nominated-Filmfare Award-Best Actress
for: Veer-Zaara (2004)
* 2004-Won-Filmfare Award-Best Actress
for: Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003)
* Nominated-Filmfare Award-Best Actor in a Villainous Role
for: Armaan (2003)
* Best Actress-for: Koi... Mil Gaya (2003)
* 2002-Nominated-Filmfare Award-Best Supporting Actress
for: Chori Chori Chupke Chupke (2001)
* 2001-Nominated-Filmfare Award-Best Actress
for: Kya Kehna (2000)
* 1999-Won-Filmfare Award-Best Newcomer - Female
for: Dil Se.. (1998)
* Also for Soldier (1998/II).
Screen Weekly Awards:
* 2005-Won-Special Award-Jodi No. 1
Shared with:Shahrukh Khan
* Nominated-Screen Best Actress
for: Veer-Zaara (2004)
* 2004-Nominated-Screen Best Actress
for: Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003)
* Best Performance in a Negative Role
for: Armaan (2003)
* 2003-Nominated-Screen Best Actress
for: Dil Hai Tumhaara (2002)
* 2001-Nominated-Screen Best Actress
for: Kya Kehna (2000)
* 1999-Won- Screen Most Promising Newcomer - Female
for: Soldier (1998/II)
Zee Cine Awards:
* 2005-Nominated-Popular Award-Best Actress
for: Veer-Zaara (2004)
* 2004-Nominated-Popular Award-Best Actress
for: Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003)
* 2003-Won-Queen of Hearts Award
* IIFA Best Actress Award for Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003)
