As Preity Zinta turns 51, the actress continues to stand out as one of Bollywood’s most memorable stars, even though she has stayed away from regular film releases for several years. From lighting up the big
screen in the late 1990s and early 2000s to building a strong identity as a businesswoman, Preity’s journey has been anything but ordinary.
On her birthday, the spotlight once again turns to how she evolved from a leading lady in Hindi cinema to a confident entrepreneur who speaks her mind.
Preity Zinta’s Bollywood journey
Preity made her acting debut in 1998 with Mani Ratnam’s Dil Se, followed by Soldier in the same year. Her fresh screen presence and natural confidence won her immediate attention, and she went on to receive the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut.
Over the next few years, she built an impressive filmography that included Kya Kehna, where she played a teenage single mother, and popular titles like Dil Chahta Hai, Dil Hai Tumhaara and Armaan. In 2003, her performance in Kal Ho Naa Ho earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Actress, cementing her place among Bollywood’s top stars.
The mid-2000s saw Preity delivering back-to-back blockbusters. Films like Koi… Mil Gaya and Veer-Zaara performed exceptionally well at the box office, while Salaam Namaste and Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna showcased her as a modern, independent woman on screen.
At a time when female characters were often boxed into limited roles, Preity’s choices helped redefine what leading ladies could represent.
Preity Zinta’s Business Ventures
In 2008, Preity took a major step that surprised many when she became a co-owner of an IPL team. Along with other partners, she invested in the Mohali-based franchise, now known as Punjab Kings.
At the time, she was the youngest team owner and the only woman associated with an IPL franchise. She holds a 23 percent stake and had invested around Rs 35 crore.
Over the years, the team’s value has grown significantly, with reports in 2025 estimating it at over Rs 1,500 crore.
Beyond cricket, she also founded her own production company, PZNZ Media, showing her interest in shaping stories behind the camera as well.
When Preity Stood Up Against The Mafia
Away from films, Preity also made headlines for her courage off screen. During the 2004 Bharat Shah case, she stood firm as a witness and did not withdraw her statement against the underworld, even after receiving threats.
Shah was the producer of her film Chori Chori Chupke Chupke, and was arrested in 2000 for having connections with Chhota Shakeel.
Thirteen others before her, including celebrities Salman Khan and Shahrukh Khan, were witnesses in the case but retracted their earlier statements, Priety however still decided to testify.
Her decision earned her widespread respect and later the Godfrey Phillips National Bravery Award. Speaking about bravery at the time, she told TOI, “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.”
Preity Zinta’s Personal Life
On the personal front, Preity married Gene Goodenough in 2016 in a private ceremony in Los Angeles. After the wedding, she moved base to the US but continues to travel frequently to India.
View this post on Instagram
In 2021, the couple welcomed twins, a boy and a girl, through surrogacy. Preity often shares glimpses of her life as a mother, balancing family, work and her various commitments.
Preity Zinta’s Comeback
While she has taken long breaks from acting, Preity is now set to return to the big screen with Lahore 1947, a period drama directed by Rajkumar Santoshi and produced by Aamir Khan, with Sunny Deol also starring in the film. Back in 2024, she shared a post revealing that she completed the shooting for Lahore 1947.
View this post on Instagram
Sharing a video she wrote, “It’s a wrap on Lahore 1947 & I couldn’t be more grateful to the entire cast and crew for such an incredible experience. I sincerely hope all of you appreciate & enjoy this film as much as we did making it. It’s definitely the toughest film I have worked on. Full marks to everyone for all their hard work & patience during the last couple of months. Thank you Raj ji, Aamir, Sunny, Shabanaji, Santosh Sivan & AR Rehman from the bottom of my heart. Loads of love always.”
/images/ppid_a911dc6a-image-176983522380027072.webp)
/images/ppid_a911dc6a-image-176983242588956895.webp)
