Preity Zinta's journey to stardom began with her captivating appearance in the Liril commercial, where she effortlessly stole the show with her refreshing and cool persona. Her dimpled smile won the hearts of millions, making her a sought-after model. Interestingly, Preity never envisioned herself as an actress, but fate had other plans.
Kapoor, impressed by her Liril commercial, decided to cast her in the lead role of his next film, 'Tara Rum Pum', which unfortunately never materialized due to the director's prior commitments. However, Preity's big break soon arrived with Kundan Shah's 'Kya Kehna' (2000),although she had already started filming for her first release, Mani Ratnam's 'Dil Se..' (1998).
'Dil Se..' went on to become a massive hit, earning Preity widespread acclaim and recognition. Her subsequent film, Abbas-Mustan's 'Soldier' (1998),also fared well at the box office, solidifying her position as a rising star in Bollywood. Although 'Kya Kehna' was her first film, it released in 2000 and surprised audiences with its success.
Preity's impressive performances in 'Dil Chahta Hai' (2001) and 'Dil Hai Tumhaara' (2002) earned her further praise and admiration. Her effortless screen presence, charm, and down-to-earth nature made her a favorite among directors and producers, cementing her status as a leading lady in Bollywood.
She went on to work with prominent banners and filmmakers, including Rakesh Roshan's 'Koi... Mil Gaya' (2003),Nikkhil Advani's 'Kal Ho Naa Ho' (2003),Farhan Akhtar's 'Lakshya' (2004),Atul Agnihotri's 'Dil Ne Jise Apna Kaha' (2004),Yash Chopra's 'Veer-Zaara' (2004),Siddharth Anand's 'Salaam Namaste' (2005),and Karan Johar's 'Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna' (2006).