Happy birthday, Preity Zinta: Here’s a look at the bold decisions taken by the actor

Preity Zinta was one of the most popular faces on screen in the 2000s and she won hearts with her infectious bubbly energy and dimpled smile. Beside her impressive acting skills, Preity Zinta is also known for taking bold steps on-screen and off-screen. Let's take a look at some of the bold decisions made by her.

Preity Zinta and Ness Wadia molestation mess
In 2005, Preity Zinta made her relationship with businessman Ness Wadia public and it seemed like a match made in heaven. Three years later, they bought an Indian Premier League (IPL) team, Kings XI Punjab, together, and fans started placing bets on when the couple would get married.

However, their relationship was short-lived. In 2009, news of Ness slapping Preity at a party surfaced and a few months later the couple broke up but they never spoke publicly about their split. In an interview, Preity said that despite their break-up, they continue to be friends and business partners.

In 2014, Preity left the nation shocked as she filed a case against Ness alleging that he molested, abused and threatened her during an IPL match. A charge sheet on the same was filed by the Mumbai Police under Indian Penal Code's sections 354 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman).

According to the complaint, the incident took place on May 30, 2014, during a Kings XI Punjab vs Chennai Super Kings match. Ness reportedly abused and manhandled the actor by grabbing her arm when she tried to calm him down during a fight.

Preity also alleged that he intimidated her by saying that he could make her ‘disappear’ as she was a ‘nobody and only an actress and he's a powerful person’. Ness had denied all the allegations and said it was baseless and false.

In 2018, Preity Zinta withdrew the molestation case against Ness Wadia after he apologised to her.

Testifying against underworld
Preity Zinta had once talked about her experience of testifying in court against gangsters, who threatened her with extortion. During the shooting of ‘Chori Chori Chupke Chupke’ (2001), Preity told a court in Mumbai that she received calls asking for ₹50 lakh.

While many from the film industry including Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and Rakesh Roshan retracted their statements about being threatened, Preity stuck to her stand. The producer of ‘Chori Chori Chupke Chupke’ Nazim Rizvi and financier Bharat Shah were found guilty of receiving funds from underworld gangster Chhota Shakeel.

Shah had been accused of facilitating the crime of targeting film personalities for extortion, and Rizvi had conspired with him as well.
Speaking at the India Today Conclave East 2018, Preity described it as a ‘scary time’ in her life.

The actor was also honoured with the Godfrey's Mind of Steel Award in 2003 for standing up against the underworld, and not retracting her statements.

Welcoming children via surrogacy
Preity Zinta married her longtime-beau Gene Goodenough in 2016. The couple welcomed twins via surrogacy in 2021. The actor is now settled in the US and has not been seen on the big screen for a while now. However, she is quite active on social media and she keeps sharing lovely pictures of her time with family and friends.

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