Why is Preity Zinta not considered "iconic" actress

She gave so many great films right from her early phase. Kya Kehna, Soldier, Koi Mil Gaya, Kal Ho Naa Ho, Veer Zaara.

She is the quintessential bubbly actress of late 90's to early 2000's.She is the Anushka Sharma of that era or rather Anushka is the Preity Zinta of late 2000's.Both play cute bubbly loud characters effortlessly.But nothing extraordinary to put under iconic category.

Very short shelf life.... and fizzled all of a sudden... literally before the social media boon. 

Hasn't been able to make a successful comeback unlike Rani or Kajol.

yaar everyone has their time. not all survive that long. She will always be remembered as the smiling dimpled with a zest for life

I enjoyed many of her movies but can't think of a single performance where I was like what an iconic performance. She had stiff competition and she was always a lesser actress than her contemporaries. I think Heaven on Earth was supposed to be her big critical movie but no one even remembers that. It was similar to Aish's Provoked where she received more praise. 

Exactly! See also Juhi Chawla- who has done some good work but did not cut it in same way as Madhuri or Sridevi did

Kya Kehna, Salaam Namastey, Sangharsh, Mission Kashmir, Chori Chori Chupke Chupke, KHNH, Lakshya, Armaan, KANK...they were all very different roles and imo she nailed each one. I didn't like Veer-Zaara at all and feel its an all hype no substance film so I haven't included it.

But she's done a variety of films, its strange how she doesn't get her due. A lot of the subject matter she worked in was taboo at the time.

She was one note to me. Her biggest film Kal Ho Naa Ho. Well 1st off it was above average at best. 2nd the guys music made it work