With her perky smile and bouncy personality, Preity Zinta introduced Bollywood to the power of bubbly, a tag that's stuck to her ever faithfully ever since.
While most heroines relied on their outright good looks or smoldering sex appeal to entice fans, PZ's refreshing candor, chic style and child woman adorability made her one of tinsel town's most exuberant celebrity.
With a good amount of successes behind her, the dimpled beauty appeared to be doing better than alright. Some major flops, misfired career choices and distraction called IPL, as it turned out, sent the actress into an unexpected sabbatical.
After a good two years of cheering for her cricket team, King's XI Punjab, Zinta aimed to reemerge with a lackluster item song in superstar pal Salman Khan's Main Aur Mrs Khanna. Both the song and movie tanked. Nor did her visible effort to sizzle things up find any buzz or mention. Just then small screen came to her rescue with the eponymous chat show, Up Close and Personal with Preity Zinta.
Bottom-line: Has the Kal Ho Naa Ho actress retained her amazing cuteness or has she become a victim of vanity like some of her contemporaries?
Tusshar Kapoor cattily mentioned PZ when Karan Johar asked who he associates cosmetic surgery with, on an episode of Koffee With Karan. How unfair! we thought. Browse through her various looks over the years and you decide.
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The late 1990s marked the entry of a young, vivacious and chatty star in films like Dil Se and Soldier. Her verbosity won her the Best Newcomer trophy at Filmfare.
Image: A scene from Soldier
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PZ's popularity among male fans increased twofold after her sensitive and sweet portrayal as the frizzy-haired sweetie of Farhan Akhtar's buddy-bonding flick, Dil Chahta Hai.
Image: Preity Zinta in Dil Chahta Hai
The glow of success is unmistakable. And it's hard to miss on Zinta, particularly in 2003, where she delivered biggest grosses of the year like Kal Ho Naa Ho and Koi...Mil Gaya.
Image: A scene from Kal Ho Na Ho
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Zinta found a lot to smile about following accolades for her stunning avatar in Yash Chopra's cross-border romance, Veer-Zaara and a sincere portrayal of a TV journalist in Lakshya.
Besides lucrative endorsements as brand ambassador, she also turned columnist for BBC Online. Her articles generated considerable response.
Image: Preity Zinta in Lakshya
Her super trendy, high-street wardrobe in Salaam Namaste and Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna underscored the fashionista.
No wonder fashion designer Manish Malhotra picked her to play showstopper for one of his creations at the Fashion Week.
Image: Preity Zinta in Salaam Namaste
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Looking sleeker than ever, Preity gives the red carpet company in her equally red ensemble at the premiere of her international project, Heaven on Earth.
Directed by Deepa Mehta, the Toronto-based drama deals with domestic violence against a supernatural backdrop.
Image: Preity Zinta
Photographs: Gettyimages/C.J. LaFrance
A slightly harried PZ addresses a press conference to talk about her role as the co-owner, along with businessman Ness Wadia (with whom she splits up the same year after a four-year-long relationship), of one of the Indian Premiere League teams, Kings XI Punjab.
Image: Preity Zinta
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Having shed enough tears and a few pounds, the bubbly star is back on her feet, in a sexy, skimpy mini to promote an event organized by Salman Khan to promote his Being Human clothing line.
Image: Preity Zinta
Photographs: Rajesh Karkera
Her entry in the world of celebrity chat show, Up Close & Personal with Preity Zinta is not as crackling as one would have expected.
But that's not all that important. What we want to know is the secret behind the 36-year-old's unbelievably smooth, wrinkle-free complexion?
Not a single line. Not one blemish. It's unreal.
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
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