History of Preity Zinta in Timeline

Preity Zinta is an Indian actress and entrepreneur prominent in Hindi cinema. With degrees in English honors and criminal psychology, she debuted in Dil Se.. (1998) and Soldier (1998), winning a Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut. Her role in Kya Kehna (2000) further solidified her career. Zinta became a leading actress, known for portraying diverse and culturally defiant characters, earning her recognition and numerous awards.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1947: Setting of Lahore 1947

In 1947, the backdrop to the film 'Lahore 1947', starring Zinta and directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, is set.

January 1975: Preity Zinta's birth

In January 1975, Preity Zinta was born into a Himachali Rajput Hindu family from Shimla district, Himachal Pradesh.

Others born on this day/year

1996: First Television Commercial

In 1996, Preity Zinta's first television commercial was for Perk chocolates, after a chance meeting with a director at a friend's birthday party.

1997: Meeting Shekhar Kapur

In 1997, Preity Zinta met Shekhar Kapur and was encouraged to audition for a film, marking the beginning of her acting career.

1998: Telugu film debut

In 1998, Preity Zinta acted in her first Telugu film, 'Premante Idera'.

1998: Acting Debut in 'Dil Se..'

In 1998, Preity Zinta made her acting debut in the film 'Dil Se..', followed by a role in 'Soldier' in the same year. These performances earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut.

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1998: Character in Dil Se

In 1998, Preity Zinta played a role in 'Dil Se'. Gender scholar Janell Hobson noted that her character, Preeti, breaks the stereotypes that Westerners have of South Asian women.

1998: Film Releases

In 1998, Preity Zinta's film 'Dil Se..' was released and she was introduced as Preeti Nair. The release of another film, Soldier, also occurred this year. She won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut for her performance in both 'Dil Se..' and 'Soldier'.

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1998: Recommended for 'Dil Se..'

In 1998, Shekhar Kapur recommended Preity Zinta for director Mani Ratnam's film 'Dil Se..', a romantic thriller.

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1999: Character in Sangharsh

In 1999, Preity Zinta played a role in 'Sangharsh', which contributed to a new image for Indian screen women.

1999: Historical Events of Kargil War

In 1999, the Kargil War occurred, and served as the backdrop for the 2004 film Lakshya, in which Zinta played a TV journalist.

1999: Events of the Kargil war

In 1999, the Kargil war happened, and was the background to the 2008 film Heroes.

2000: Bharat Shah arrested for connections with Mumbai underworld boss

In 2000, Bharat Shah, the financer of Chori Chori Chupke Chupke, was arrested for having connections with Chhota Shakeel, a Mumbai underworld boss.

2000: Began dating model Marc Robinson

In 2000, Preity Zinta began dating model Marc Robinson.

2000: Character in Kya Kehna

In 2000, Preity Zinta played a role in 'Kya Kehna', which contributed to a new image for Indian screen women.

2000: Recognition for 'Kya Kehna'

In 2000, Preity Zinta was recognized for her role as a teenage single mother in the film 'Kya Kehna'.

2000: Vidhu Vinod Chopra praises Zinta's acting

In 2000, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, director of the film 'Mission Kashmir,' credited Preity Zinta with the ability to make the viewer believe even in the most convoluted situations.

September 2001: "Craze 2001" world tour faced cancellation due to 9/11 attacks

In September 2001, Preity Zinta's first world tour, "Craze 2001", faced early cancellation due to the 11 September 2001 attacks in the US, but the shows successfully continued in Canada.

2001: Release of 'Chori Chori Chupke Chupke'

In 2001, 'Chori Chori Chupke Chupke' was released, featuring Preity Zinta as Madhubala, a surrogate mother. She received a Best Supporting Actress nomination at the Filmfare Awards for her performance.

2001: Critically Appreciated Roles

In 2001, Preity Zinta had critically appreciated roles in 'Chori Chori Chupke Chupke' and 'Dil Chahta Hai'.

2001: Releases in 2001

In 2001, two more releases featured Zinta, including Farhan Akhtar's coming-of-age Dil Chahta Hai. Zinta played Aamir Khan's love interest Shalini, who is conflicted about her upcoming, loveless marriage.

2002: Participated in "From India With Love" show in the UK

In 2002, Preity Zinta participated in the show "From India With Love" in the UK, along with Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai. It took place at Manchester's Old Trafford and London's Hyde Park.

2002: Role in 'Dil Hai Tumhaara'

In 2002, Preity Zinta played Shalu in the family drama 'Dil Hai Tumhaara', a role she identified with due to its rebellious nature. Her portrayal was acclaimed by critics.

2002: Production delay of Khullam Khulla Pyaar Karen

In 2002, the production of the film Khullam Khulla Pyaar Karen, starring Preity Zinta, was delayed. The film was eventually released in 2005.

2003: Ranked top Bollywood female star

In 2003, Preity Zinta appeared in the number one spot on Rediff.com's "Top Bollywood Female Stars".

2003: Filmfare Award for Best Actress and Top-Grossing Films

In 2003, Preity Zinta received the Filmfare Award for Best Actress for her performance in 'Kal Ho Naa Ho'. She also starred in 'Koi... Mil Gaya', a top-grossing film in India.

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2003: Testified against the Indian mafia in the Bharat Shah case

In 2003, Preity Zinta testified against the Indian mafia as a witness in the Bharat Shah case, despite receiving extortion threats, and was given witness protection.

2003: Career surge in 2003

In 2003, Preity Zinta's career surged significantly as she played the lead in three of India's highest-grossing films of the year, including The Hero: Love Story of a Spy.

January 2004: First column in BBC News Online: "The changing face of Bollywood"

In January 2004, Preity Zinta's first column, "The changing face of Bollywood", was published on BBC News Online. The column discussed the evolution of Bollywood over the past decade and quickly became one of the site's ten most-read stories of the day.

2004: Columns for BBC News Online

Between 2004 and 2005, Preity Zinta wrote a series of columns for BBC News Online South Asia.

2004: Supported blood donation

In 2004, Preity Zinta attended a blood donation camp organised by the Rotary Club of Delhi and the Godfrey Phillips Awards, advocating for women's empowerment and blood donation.

2004: Joined "Temptation 2004" world tour

In 2004, Preity Zinta joined the "Temptation 2004" world tour with other Bollywood stars, which was showcased in more than 22 countries.

2004: Ranked top actress by Box Office India

In 2004, Preity Zinta ranked first in Box Office India's top actress listing for the second consecutive year.

2004: Zinta stars in Lakshya

In 2004, Preity Zinta starred as TV journalist Romila Dutta in the war drama Lakshya, based on the 1999 Kargil War. Her performance received mixed reviews, and the film had a limited audience.

2004: Starring in 'Veer-Zaara'

In 2004, Preity Zinta starred in 'Veer-Zaara', which became one of the top-grossing films in India that year.

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2004: Escaped death twice

In late 2004, Preity Zinta narrowly escaped death twice: first after an explosion at a Temptation concert in Colombo, Sri Lanka; and second during the Indian Ocean earthquake.

February 2005: Started dating Ness Wadia

In February 2005, Preity Zinta began dating businessman Ness Wadia.

2005: Columns for BBC News Online

Between 2004 and 2005, Preity Zinta wrote a series of columns for BBC News Online South Asia.

2005: Performed at "HELP! Telethon Concert"

In 2005, Preity Zinta performed at the "HELP! Telethon Concert" to raise money for victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.

2005: Character in Salaam Namaste

In 2005, Preity Zinta played a role in 'Salaam Namaste', which contributed to a new image for Indian screen women. Author Monika Mehta notes the similarity between Zinta's public image as an independent and opinionated woman and her culturally defiant character in the movie.

2005: Zinta in Khullam Khulla Pyaar Karen and Salaam Namaste

In 2005, Preity Zinta starred in the folk comedy Khullam Khulla Pyaar Karen, which was delayed since 2002 and received negative reviews. She also starred in the comedy-drama Salaam Namaste, which was a commercial success.

September 2006: Ranked among "Asia's Sexiest Women"

In September 2006, the UK magazine Eastern Eye ranked Preity Zinta among "Asia's Sexiest Women".

2006: Attended Cannes Film Festival

In 2006, Preity Zinta attended the Cannes Film Festival along with filmmaker Karan Johar to represent the Hindi film industry and promote Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna.

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2006: Moved into her own home in Mumbai

In 2006, Preity Zinta moved into her own home in Mumbai.

2006: Part of the "Heat 2006" world tour

In 2006, Preity Zinta participated in the "Heat 2006" world tour, along with Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan, Sushmita Sen and Celina Jaitley.

2006: Character in Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna

In 2006, Preity Zinta played a role in 'Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna', which contributed to a new image for Indian screen women.

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2006: Zinta stars in Jaan-E-Mann

In 2006, Preity Zinta starred in Shirish Kunder's romantic musical Jaan-E-Mann, which received mixed reviews and had poor box office returns.

2006: Brand ambassador for the Godfrey Phillips Bravery awards

Since 2006, Preity Zinta has been the brand ambassador for the Godfrey Phillips Bravery awards.

2007: Analysis of Zinta's roles in 'Once Upon a Time in Bollywood'

In 2007, Jennifer Thomas analyzed Preity Zinta's roles for a chapter in the book 'Once Upon a Time in Bollywood'. According to Jennifer Thomas, Zinta "resists patriarchal constraints through her modern lifestyle and the controversial roles she chooses".

2007: Zinta stars in The Last Lear

In 2007, Preity Zinta starred in Rituparno Ghosh's English-language film The Last Lear, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and was received well. The film won Best English Film at the 55th National Film Awards.

2007: Zinta stars in Jhoom Barabar Jhoom

In 2007, Preity Zinta starred in the musical comedy Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, which was a commercial failure in India and received negative reviews.

2007: Visited army training base in Hisar and supported street children

In 2007, Preity Zinta visited Hisar, Haryana, for the NDTV show Jai Jawan, spending a day at the army training base and supporting street children by painting for Khushi, a non-governmental organisation.

2008: Attended Cannes Film Festival as brand ambassador

In 2008, Preity Zinta made an appearance at the Cannes Film Festival as the brand ambassador of Chopard, the maker of luxury watches and jewellery.

2008: Performed in "The Unforgettable Tour"

In 2008, Preity Zinta performed in "The Unforgettable Tour" with the Bachchan family and Ritesh Deshmukh, across North America, Europe and the Caribbean.

2008: International Role in 'Heaven on Earth'

In 2008, Preity Zinta played her first international role in the Canadian drama 'Heaven on Earth', earning her the Silver Hugo Award for Best Actress and a nomination for the Genie Award for Best Actress.

2008: Zinta stars in Heaven on Earth

In 2008, Preity Zinta played the leading role in Deepa Mehta's Canadian film Heaven on Earth, a Punjabi-language drama about domestic abuse. Her performance earned her the Silver Hugo Award for Best Actress at the Chicago International Film Festival.

2008: Acquired ownership rights for Kings XI Punjab IPL team

In 2008, Preity Zinta, along with Ness Wadia, Mohit Burman, and others, acquired ownership rights for the Mohali-based Twenty20 cricket team of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Kings XI Punjab (later renamed Punjab Kings).

2008: Co-ownership of Punjab Kings

Since 2008, Preity Zinta has been a co-owner of the Indian Premier League cricket team Punjab Kings.

May 2009: Broke up with Ness Wadia

In May 2009, Preity Zinta and Ness Wadia ended their relationship.

2009: Adopted 34 girls from Mother Miracle orphanage

In 2009, on her 34th birthday, Preity Zinta adopted 34 girls from the Mother Miracle orphanage in Rishikesh, taking on the responsibility of financially supporting their education, food and clothing.

2009: Zinta was the only woman to own an IPL team

Until 2009, Preity Zinta was the only woman to own an IPL team, and was the league's youngest owner.

January 2010: Appointed brand ambassador of The Loomba Trust

In January 2010, Preity Zinta was appointed the brand ambassador of The Loomba Trust, an organisation working for the welfare of widows and their children.

October 2010: Awarded Honorary Doctorate of Arts from the University of East London

In October 2010, Preity Zinta was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Arts from the University of East London for her cultural contribution and humanitarian work.

2010: Nomination for Time's 100 most influential people

In 2010, Time magazine selected Preity Zinta as one of the candidates for its list of the world's 100 most influential people. She was the only Indian actress nominated for the poll but did not make it to the final list.

2011: Zinta launches PZNZ Media

In 2011, Preity Zinta launched her own production company, PZNZ Media, marking a new phase in her career.

2011: Television debut as host of Guinness World Records – Ab India Todega

In 2011, Preity Zinta made her television debut as the host of the show Guinness World Records – Ab India Todega on Colors Channel.

December 2012: Returned to the stage with "Temptation Reloaded" concert in Jakarta

In December 2012, Preity Zinta returned to the stage with the "Temptation Reloaded" concert in Jakarta, joined by Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukerji and Bipasha Basu.

2013: Comeback Film 'Ishkq in Paris'

In 2013, Preity Zinta made an intermittent appearance in her self-produced comeback film, 'Ishkq in Paris', which did not achieve significant success.

2013: Reflection on 'Sangharsh'

In 2013, Subhash K. Jha reflected that 'Sangharsh' marked a rare occasion in Hindi cinema at the time where a top male star played a secondary role to the leading lady.

June 2014: Filed complaint against Ness Wadia

On 13 June 2014, Preity Zinta filed a complaint with the Mumbai police against Ness Wadia alleging molestation, threats, and abuse at an IPL match.

2014: Shobhaa De comments on lodging a molestation complaint against Ness Wadia

In 2014, author and columnist Shobhaa De commended Preity Zinta for lodging a molestation complaint against Ness Wadia, while expressing concern regarding Zinta's repeated quest for justice.

2015: Featured as talent judge for Nach Baliye Season 7

In 2015, Preity Zinta featured as a talent judge for the seventh season of the dance reality show Nach Baliye.

February 2016: Married Gene Goodenough

On 29 February 2016, Preity Zinta married Gene Goodenough in a private ceremony in Los Angeles.

September 2017: Became owner of Stellenbosch Kings franchise team

In September 2017, Preity Zinta became the owner of the Stellenbosch Kings franchise team of South Africa's Mzansi Super League.

2017: Ownership of Stellenbosch Kings

Since 2017, Preity Zinta has been the owner of the South-African T20 Global League cricket team Stellenbosch Kings.

2018: Zinta stars in Bhaiaji Superhit

In 2018, Preity Zinta starred opposite Sunny Deol in Neeraj Pathak's action comedy Bhaiaji Superhit. The film was not well-received, and Zinta's performance was criticized.

2018: Bombay High Court quashed complaint against Ness Wadia

In 2018, the Bombay High Court quashed Preity Zinta's complaint against Ness Wadia after the issue was amicably settled.

2020: Zinta appears in Fresh Off the Boat

In 2020, Preity Zinta appeared in an episode of the American sitcom Fresh Off the Boat. A spin-off series based on her character's family was planned but did not materialize.

2021: Punjab Kings bought Saint Lucia's team in CPL

In 2021, Preity Zinta and her Punjab Kings partners bought Saint Lucia's representative team in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), which was rebranded as Saint Lucia Kings.

2021: Became parents to twins through surrogacy

In 2021, Preity Zinta and her husband, Gene Goodenough, became parents to twins, a boy and a girl, through surrogacy.

2023: Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna earnings in 2023

In 2023, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna had earnings equivalent to ₹2.0 billion (US$24 million) in India and ₹1.6 billion (US$19 million) abroad, highlighting its significant financial success.