Preity Zinta ( born January 31, 1975) is an Indian film actress who has appeared in Hindi cinemas of Bollywood, Telugu and English movies. A criminal psychology graduate, Zinta made her acting debut in Dil Se in 1998, followed by Soldier in the same year. She won a Filmfare Best Female Debut Award for both films, and was later recognized for her performance as a teenage single mother in Kya Kehna. Following this, she went on to display her range and portray a diversity of characters, subsequently credited with bringing a change in the image of Hindi film heroine.