Glamourous Preity Zinta made her mark on the modelling world while still in school, and got her big break when director Shekhar Kapur cast her in ‘Tara Rum Pum Pum’. The film was never made, but that didn’t matter, as industry bigwigs were already taking notice.

Her debut release ended up being 1998’s ‘Dil Se’, opposite Shahrukh Khan, and after that, her future was assured.

Preity's life hasn't been an easy one. According to Bollywhat.com, her father died in a car accident when she was thirteen. Her mother was severely injured in the same accident and was bedridden for two years. "I think that was the first turning point in my life," she said in an interview with Rediff. "A great deal of maturity came into my life. I was forced to grow up."

Along the way, Preity learnt to stand on her own two feet and rely on her self, living life by her own standards.

The party girl is never out of the headlines for long. She and Kareena Kapoor are famously at loggerheads — politely referred to by both parties as “misunderstandings” in interviews — and Preity isn’t shy to admit she’s fond of partying, leading gossipmongers to spread rumours of her allegedly outrageous behaviour.

She says she’s looking for a man with intelligence, self-esteem and integrity. Seems like she’s still looking — her breakup with Marc Robinson was well-documented, and she’s been linked to Sanjay Dutt and Aamir Khan, although she has denied involvement with either. Preity speculates it may have something to do with her overbearing attitude.

Born on January 31, 1975, Preity graduated in psychology before turning to acting, hates waking up early, says she talks too much and is a bit of a scatterbrain. The worst part about being an actress, she says, is the pressure to look gorgeous and perfect all the time.