She made her Bollywood debut with a supporting role in Mani Ratnam’s film Dil Se starring Shah Rukh Khan and Manisha Koirala. She then went on to win the award for the Best Female Debut for the film Even though she became the most sought-after actress post-Dil Se, Preity Zinta chose to do films that were off the beaten track as opposed to the typical Bollywood masala films. From choosing films based on subjects like teenage pregnancy to surrogacy, Preity Zinta dared to do films that were different and bold. ( Thinking out loud; She was also lucky since the Karni Sena or the ‘over sanskari’ moral police were not dominant around that time!)
Let’s take a look at some of Preity’s films that spoke about issues which only the bold could speak about back then.
Kya Kehna
Image Credit: Movie – Kya Kehna
Kya Kehna was supposed to be her debut film but was released after Dil Se.She played the role of a teenage unwed mother. A role that not many would have dared to do. The film was path-breaking as it dealt with the issue of teenage pregnancy and it was the first time a film on that subject had been made in Bollywood.
Heaven on Earth
Image Credit: Movie – Heaven on Earth
In Heaven on Earth, Preity plays a young Punjabi woman married to an NRI and tormented by her husband. This was one of her best performances for which she got critical acclaim. Preity who plays Chand, the young woman takes refuge in a fictional world.
Chori Chori Chupke Chupke
Image Credit: Movie – Chori Chori Chupke Chupke
Much before anyone and everyone from Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao to Karan Johar and Tushar Kapoor opted for surrogacy,in Chori Chori Chupke Chupke, Preity played the role of a prostitute who agrees to become a surrogate mother! The concept of surrogacy was never discussed in the open, it was a taboo topic on screen too but Preity took the risk and played the character.
Armaan
Image Credit: Movie – Armaan
When most of the heroines are happy just romancing the top heroes and adding nothing but glamour to a film, Preity chose to play a villain in Armaan. She plays a character who suffers from schizophrenia and was even nominated for Best Villain at the Filmfare Awards!
HFT Wishes Preity A very Happy Birthday!
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