Preity Zinta (pronounced ; born 31 January 1975) is an Indian film
actress. She has appeared in Hindi films of Bollywood, as well as
Telugu, Punjabi and English language films. 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 Award for Best Female Debut, and she was later
recognised for her role as a teenage single mother in Kya Kehna (2000).
She subsequently played a variety of character types; her film roles
along with her screen persona contributed to a change in the concept of a
Hindi film heroine.Zinta received the Filmfare Award for Best Actress
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 (2003), her biggest
commercial success, and the star-crossed romance Veer-Zaara (2004),
which earned her critical acclaim. She was later noted for her portrayal
of independent, modern Indian women in Salaam Namaste (2005) and Kabhi
Alvida Naa Kehna (2006), top-grossing productions in overseas
markets.These accomplishments have established her as a leading actress
of Hindi cinema. Her first international film role was in the Canadian
film Heaven on Earth, for which she was awarded the Silver Hugo Award
for Best Actress at the 2008 Chicago International Film Festival.