Born in Shimla, native of Rohru, she studied at the Jesus and Mary Simla Convent School after getting a degree in criminal psychology at the St. Bedes College, Zinta began her career as a model, and commercial (ad films) actress (she was seen in Lyril (soap ad film). Her father, Durganand Zinta died when she was thirteen in a car accident in which her mother, Nilprabha Zinta was also involved. Her mother was bedridden because of this incident. Zinta has two brothers, Deepanker Zinta and Manish Zinta, a year older and a year younger respectively.
Preity Zinta's first movie was supposed to be Kya Kehna but due to delay Dil Se was released first. The film was her breakthrough role and she won the Filmfair Best Debut Award for her performance. Since then her career was that of a typical Bollywood star: not many hits but not many flops either.
In 2003, Zinta had two smash hits, Koi... Mil Gaya and Kal Ho Naa Ho. She is currently among the most successful actresses in Bollywood. In the year of 2003, she won many awards for her role in the film, Kal Ho Naa Ho. Her performance got her the Filmfare Best Actress Award. Since then she has appeared in two other box office hits, Veer-Zaara (2004) and Salaam Namaste (2005).
Preity Zintajoined a group of top stars (Shahrukh Khan, Rani Mukerji, Saif Ali Khan, Arjun Rampal, and Priyanka Chopra) in the Temptation 2004 concert, which was a huge international success. She also modeled for Manish Malhotra during Lakme Fashion Week, and has received a invitation to represent Bollywood at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2006 along with Karan Johar.
Preity Zinta narrowly escaped death twice in late 2004, once after an explosion at a Temptation concert in Colombo, and later in the Indian Ocean Tsunami.
Zinta has written three columns for BBC South Asia.
Her next releases will be Krrish, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna and Jaaneman.
Preity Zinta has been linked with a few of her co-stars such as Salman Khan, Abhishek Bachchan and Aamir Khan but has always dismissed them as rumors. She is currently dating the heir to the Bombay Dyeing company Ness Wadia.
