Preity Zinta let a coin toss decide her fate in the film industry

Preity Zinta/ Instagram

Preity Zinta is one of the most loved actresses of the Hindi film industry. In the early 2000s, Preity was among the top female actors in Bollywood and featured in several big films. But did you know she began her career with a coin toss?

Preity Zinta was first offered the film 'Ta Ra Rum Pum Pum' by director Shekhar Kapur. However, she left the decision of whether or not to do the film to a coin toss. On Rendezvous With Simi Garewal, Preity said, "It sounds like the perfect story, but no. I think when I met Shekhar, when he wanted to sign me up for 'Ta Ra Rum Pum Pum', I was just like this little kid looking at Shekhar Kapur. And I just wanted to be cool, so I said, ‘Okay, if it's destiny then I'll just flip this coin. I said, ‘Heads, I will take film as a career and tails, I won't'."

When asked what would she have done if she got tails, she replied, "I wouldn't have signed that film. I promise you." Simi was stunned and asked if Preity had really taken a film offer so lightly, she answered, "Just for style, anything for style at that point."

While the coin toss was in her favour the film got shelved and she went on to make her Bollywood debut with the maverick Mani Ratnam's film 'Dil Se' in 1998. The film had Shah Rukh Khan as the male lead opposite Preity. As for 'Ta Ra Rum Pum', the film was made years later by director Siddharth Anand with Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukerji in the lead.

Preity Zinta went on to feature in films like 'Kya Kehna', 'Kal Ho Na Ho', 'Soldier', 'Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna', 'Salaam Namaste', 'Dil Chahta Hai', and many more. She is one of the few actors to who have shared screen with all the leading Khans of Bollywood. She did 'Kal Ho Na Ho', 'Dil Se', 'Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna', 'Veer Zara' with Shah Rukh Khan, 'Jaan-e-Mann', 'Chori Chori Chupke Chupke', 'Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega' with Salman Khan, 'Dil Chahta Hai' with Aamir Khan, 'Salaam Namaste' with Saif Ali Khan among others.

Also Read: Preity Zinta Birthday 2023: Adorable moments with her twins Jai and Gia