Preity Zinta has not yet reached a stage of her career where a definitive review can be written about her. She has miles to go before an authoritative review or biography can be written about her. However this review attempts to review her short career which she had so far.
Preity first caught the public eye in the ad which she did for Liril soap. Her expressions in that ad were such that immediately the film fraternity were attracted towards her. Her first big film was Dil Se which was directed by ace director Mani Ratnam. She played the role of SRK’s fiancee in this film very effectively and impressively.
She surprised everyone by choosing to do a film like Kya Kehna ! in the early stages of her career.In this film she played the role of an unwed mother.This film was the acid test for Preity and she passed the test successfully.
She gave a commercial hit ’Soldier’ with Bobby Deol in the year 1998.She did a couple of films with friend turned foe Rani Mukerjee and Salman Khan namely Chori Chori Chupke Chupke and Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega.Her role in Chori Chori Chupke Chupke had two shades namely that of a bar dancer and of a mother who is unwilling to part with the child. She portrayed both the parts with conviction.
In the year 2000 she played the role of Sufiya Pervez in the film Mission Kashmir. She was paired opposite Hritik Roshan.The film didnt do too well at the box office but Preity was well appreciated. The rumour mills also had it that something was cooking between Sanjay Dutt and Preity during the shooting of the film.
In 2001 she played the role of Shalini in Dil Chahta Hai opposite Aamir Khan. The film was a hit and it only consolidated Preity’s star status. However this time rumours were rife that Preity had married Aamir Khan.
In 2002 Preity for the first time took up a role where she carried a film on her shoulders. Her role in Dil Hai Tumhara was that of an illegitimate daughter who tries to win her mother’s affection by sacrificing her love to her step sister. Film was average however Preity impressed all with her display of emotions.
The year 2003 was a turning point in Preity’s career.She gave two powerful hits in Koi Mil Gaya and Kal Ho Na Ho. In my opinion her role in Kal Ho Na Ho had more depth because the story in that film revolved around her. Her film Armaan in the same year saw her play a role with negative shades for the first time.
In the year 2004 her film Dil Ne Jisse Aapna Kaha could not do much. Her next film Veer Zaara is eagerly awaited by her fans.
Preity Zinta’s strengths are her ability to emote and her dimpled smile. She effortlessly portrays a myraid of emotions on her face. Her dialogue delivery is excellent. Preity is an actress who says more with her eyes than with words. Given her enormous potential and talents she doesnt need to indulge in skin show as is done by several present day actresses.
That the lady is full of talents is not a matter of doubt. All she needs to do is to select the roles carefully. In my opinion she needs to avoid roles like the one which she played in Hero - the love story of a spy. That was more of a conventional Hindi film type role where the heroine exists only for dancing and songs.
Her family includes her mother and her brother who is serving in the armed forces. She has been linked to some of the actors which I have written above and nowadays the press carry a lot of stories of her off screen confrontation with Rani Mukerjee.
As I have already written a the begining of the review, Preity has miles to go before one can write an authoritative review or biography about her. Looking at her talents one feels destiny has higher things in store for her. May the lady smile her way to success.