PREITY ZINTA has all the reasons to be on sun shine for the accolades she has received for her performance in Deepa Mehta’s film, Heaven on Earth. She has been honoured by being awarded the Silver Hugo Award for best actress at the 44th edition of Chicago International Film Festival. In extreme ecstasy, she articulates-“I am walking on sunshine. I can’t believe where I am!”
Indeed, Preity should feel proud for what she has attained. She is only the second Indian actress to have been bestowed such a prestigious award at the Chicago International Film Festival. Noted actress and socialite Shabana Azmi was the first to receive this award. This is the second big recognition for Preity within a year after winning warm reviews at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this year.
This award is the result of a brave decision taken on the part of Preity to explore with new genre of acting. Unlike her stereotype candyfloss roles, Preity decided to take up serious and meaningful roles in movies such as The Last Lear, Heaven on Earth, and Heroes. Her belief in herself and her directors has taken Preity to the next level of acting, and hence accolades are the order of the day.
The jury of Chicago Film Festival praised Preity for her strong yet subtle performance as a woman struggling to keep her dreams despite brutal realities. Preity plays the role of a battered Punjabi wife, who is a victim of domestic violence. She has portrayed the lively character of a woman struggling to keep her dreams intact despite brutal realities she has been subjected to.
Heaven on Earth explores the struggle of an immigrant bride in Canada and the choice she has to make to empower herself away from the abusive relationship in her new home. Priety has lived her character to its fullest portraying the imagination, wit and soul strength of a battered wife trying to keep her sanity and self-esteem intact.
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For her power-packed performance in the film, Preity expressed her gratitude to Anupam Kher for attending his acting school to get her Punjabi right for the role and getting invaluable tips from him.
However, Preity was not present in Chicago, when this announcement was made and she only came to know through her director Deepa Mehta, who was all praise for Preity and described her as ’luminous’ in the film. Deepa said, “It’s amazing, isn’t it? I am so happy for Preity. She’s luminous in Heaven On Earth...just like Shabana Azmi in Fire.”
For now, all we can say is that Preity is proving her mettle in whatever venture she is trying her hands. On business front, she was recently declared by a foreign magazine to be one of the most influential female business personalities of the world- being the owner of IPL, Mohali team. Now, she has proved her credentials in acting on world stage. Congratulations Preity
