Preity Zinta

Date of Birth: 31st January 1975

Preity Zinta is from the North Indian city of Shimla. Her father died in a car accident when she was just 13 and Preity has often said it forced her to grow up. She has a degree in Criminal Psychology and began her career by modelling for TV ads.

Preity's first break in movies was in Mani Ratnam's Dil Se in 1998. Early in her career she experimented with a couple of unconventional roles but then went on to star in a string of mushy romances. For a change, in 2008 she'll be seen in arthouse films.

In 2003 Preity made news when she emerged as the only actress to testify against the Mumbai underworld when even top actors retracted their statements. She was honoured for her courage.

Preity has been linked to most of her co-stars, but has denied all the rumours. She has dated model Marc Robinson and a Danish guy, Lars. She was in a relationship with industrialist Ness Wadia, with whom she also co-owned the Kings XI Punjab Indian Premier League team. Preity and Ness broke up in 2009 but remain joint owners of the team.