'Are you a virgin?' she asked Shahrukh Khan to his visible discomfiture in her debut movie Dil Se. This was Preity all over. Bindaas, all attitude, smart, confident, cool and Pretty. With a cute dimpled face that photographed well, Preity was picked up for ad campaigns for Liril Soap and Perk chocolate. She had accompanied a friend on a audition which Shekhar Kapur was conducting. He dared her over the microphone to take the audition, and she took the dare. She was chosen to play the lead in Kapur's Tara Rum Pum (No connection to the movie made by the same name later) with Hritik Roshan. The movie never took off but Kapur recommendated Preity to Mani Ratnam for an important side role in Dil Se. She bagged Kya Kehna first, but the movie was released much later in 2000. The first to come was Dil Se in 1998. Next was Soldier by Abbas Mastan with a fresh Bobby Deol. The movie was a hit. She dimpled her way into the hearts of viewers singing 'Soldier Soldier, meethi baaten bolker'. Next on the marquee was the dark Sangharsh with Akshay Kumar. This Indian 'Silence of the Lambs' by Tanuja Chandra did not do well but it was important for Preity to choose roles with substance, That was clear.
When Kya Kehna was finally released in 2007, it was a critical and a commercial success. She essayed the role of a teenage girl who is ditched by her boyfriend (Saif) after she gets pregnant. She takes a decision to have a baby despite social boycott and wins everyone's respect. She did her job with competence and directors were keen to cast this cute face in substantial roles. By her own admission, her friends had begged her not to do any 'running around the trees' roles. A combination of luck and hard work ensured that she got pencilled into the best of the projects. Raj Kanwar's Har Dil Jo Pyaar Karega had her in the difficult role of a surrogate mother who falls in love with her 'donor'. She plays the sacrificing girl, giving up her baby to her lover (Salman Khan) and his wife (Rani Mukherjee) and going away from their lives.
FAVORITE ALL THE WAY
Her next starred her with Hritik Roshan, they made a cute pair and became good personal friends as well. The movie came hot on the trail of the immense success that Hritik had with his debut and was pounced upon by viewers. Mission Kashmir was more about Sanjay Dutt and Hritik Roshan, but Preity plays the girl who brings love into the life of the hardened militant played by Hritik Roshan. Her movies were enjoying success at the box office and Preity had a wide fan base who were charmed by the roles with substance she insisted on picking. Chori Chori Chupke Chupke was the indian version of While You Were Sleeping and this time she bagged the hero. It was a fun film too and it was the second time she was starring along with Rani Mukherjee and Salman Khan after Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega.
Dil Chahta Hai (2001) was the first effort of Farhan Khan and there was a huge buzz about the movie. Aamir and Preity starred together in this movie. Preity was again a peppy urban girl who loves Amir but has to wait till he overcomes his committment issues. This was an out and out modern movie and conferred a preferred star status on Preity. By contrast her next two movies, Yeh Raaste Hain Pyaar Ke and Dil Hai Tumhara did nothing much at the box office. The Hero was a huge budget movie with Sunny Deol. It did well at the box office, but below expectations, given the outlay. But starring with Sunny Deol was the highlight for Preity. Similarly huge expectations rode on her next starrer Armaan, directed by Honey Irani. The movie starred Amitabh Bachchan and Anil Kapoor alongwith Preity. Preity played a tempramental heiress here and was appreciated for her role, but the movie did not do well.
THE DARLING OF THE MASSES
Never mind, Preity would have said. Film world is full of ups and downs. Movies become hit or flop for no apparent reason. But her next movie was a winner from the word go. Koi.. Mil Gaya was the indian version of ET. No doubt, Hritik and Jadoo took up ample screen space, but Preity played the girl who 'understands' the retarded Hritik. Her effervescence was perfect for this movie which was targetted at younger audiences. The movie was a major hit.
A rift between Karan Johar and Kareena Kapoor threw Naina Kapur right into Preity's lap. Preity played the sad Naina and the glasses she wore in the movie became a fashion statement. Karan Johar's Kal Ho Na Ho brought Shahrukh Khan - Preity and Saif together in a highly entertaining movie which was a big hit in India and abroad. She had also bagged Farhan Akhtar's next, Lakshya again opposite Hrithik. The movie was a moderate hit. Preity had a substantial role as a TV anchor who travels to Kargil to cover the war. The character she played was supposed to be modelled on Barkha Dutt. Hritik and Preity were flirty in the first half and serious in the next. This movie is a personal favorite with pinkbee.
Dil ne Jise Apna Kaha was based on Return to Me (David Duchovny and Minnie Driver) about a heart that survives the donor, but the romantic movie did not go down too well with cinegoers.
ROMANCE MONGER
Veer Zaara was the big Yash Chopra movie with all its trappings. A lavish romance that straddled decades and countries. Zaara (Preity) was a Pakistani lass and Veer (Shahrukh Khan) was and Indian Army officer. They try their best to sacrifice their lives for each others' happiness, but are reunited by a lawyer (Rani Mukherjee) who is touched by their story and moves heaven and earth to help them. They meet when they are old and grey. It was just the kind of a 5 hanky weepie that women naturally gravitate towards. It was a big big hit.
Khullam Khulla Pyar Karen had Preity with Govinda in a rollicking comedy. It was a moderate hit. Preity got to match steps with Govinda here.
Siddharth Anand came up with his own version of the hollywood hit Nine Months. In Salaam Namaste Preity played a knocked up woman once again. But that was in the latter half of the movie, in the first half, she had tempestous romantic encounters with Saif. It was a totally fun movie. Javed Jaffri came up with a hilarious cameo caricaturing Feroz Khan. His 'eggjacktly' became the cult quote of the year. Preity ruled this movie like the icing and the cherry on cake. If anyone thought Meg Ryan's act in When Harry Met Sally where she 'fakes' an orgasm in the diner was never going to be done by any Indian film heroine, they were mistaken. Preity was feisty enough to eat her icecream 'orgasmically' in Salaam Namaste.
Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna sank at the box office despite the top star billing and Karan Johar tag. The theme was not bad, but the characterisation was poor and the script faltered. Shahrukh Khan and Rani Mukherjee ruined everything by playing sad sacks. Preity was actually believable and played her part well. In Shirish Kunder's Jaaneman Preity was feted by two heros, Akshay and Salman. The movie was a space-age romantic comedty and did fairly well..
Jhoom Barabar Jhoom was one the most awaited movies of 2007, that is a measure of the anticipation with which a Preity starrer is awaited. But agan, lacks in direction made the movie fall apart at box office.
Preity enjoys high credibilty with the viewers. Her fans are waiting and watching to see what their favorite actress will next be up to.
GOSSSSSIP
Preity declared categorically that she would never date her co-star because she considered it unprofessional. She was involved with a foreigner called Lars previously. Later she seriously dated Ness Wadia, heir of the Bombay Dyeing empire. Rumours are strong that she will tie the knot with him soon and settle down. This despite rumours of rift between the pair and between Maureen Wadia and Preity.
She has always been a bindaas babe in real life too, and gossip mags never lacked any quotes from her side.
Despite her bindaas and open attitude, she attended parties cocooned by her close friends. Even in movie parties, she would accompany close friends Shahrukh Khan's family or Hrithik's family. This has always shielded her from unsavory incidents.
She is a confimed chatterbox and her co-stars always mention that with Preity around it is hard to get in a word sideways
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