Preity Zinta, Bollywood’s eternal ‘Dimple Girl,’ owes her superstar status to sheer chance—a coin flip that defied her initial reluctance. Hailing from Shimla, her early life was marked by loss: her army officer father died in a car crash when she was 13, and her mother battled injuries for two years.

A bright student, Preity shone in school, earned an English honors degree, and delved into criminal psychology for her master’s. Acting wasn’t on her radar until Shekhar Kapoor eyed her for a film. To appear nonchalant, she suggested tossing a coin. Heads came up, and just like that, she embraced cinema.

Though that particular project didn’t proceed as planned, her 1998 debut in ‘Dil Se..’ alongside Shah Rukh Khan sparked her journey. From vulnerable roles in ‘Kya Kehna’ and ‘Sangharsh’ to bubbly characters in ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ and heartfelt ones in ‘Kal Ho Naa Ho’ and ‘Veer-Zaara,’ Preity dominated the 2000s.

Awards poured in, with Filmfare recognition highlighting her versatility. Off-screen, she married Gene Goodenough in 2016, welcoming twins via surrogacy. Now based in Los Angeles, Preity co-owns IPL team Punjab Kings and remains a symbol of resilience, her infectious smile a reminder of destiny’s playful hand.