We might not get to see her in the movies so often now, but Preity Zinta will always remain one of our favourite actresses in Bollywood. Born on January 31, 1975, the actress turns 44 today. She made her acting debut in Bollywood in 1998 with Dil Se... which is one of the most iconic movies till date. Over the years, she has appeared in movies like Salaam Namaste, Kal Ho Na Ho, Koi... Mil Gaya, Veer Zara, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna and the list goes on. Preity is the only actress of her times to have taken up roles that were too bold for her times. She played surrogate mother in Chori Chori Chupke Chupke and an unmarried mother in Kya Kehna. As she turns a year older today, let's take you through 5 movies wherein she chose to break several stereotypes around women and relationships and gave us characters that will stay with us forever.

Chori Chori Chupke Chupke

She played a prostitute in the movie, who goes on to become a surrogate mother to Salman Khan and Rani Mukerji's child since Rani's character in the movie cannot conceive. Preity's transformation in the movie from a bar dancer to becoming one of them is worth- watching! Preity Zinta Apologises for Her Comment on #MeToo Movement, Says She’s Sorry If She Has Unintentionally Hurt Anyone’s Sentiments.

Kya Kehna

In Kya Kehna, Preity's character falls in love with that of Saif Ali Khan's and the two are going just fine until they realise that she is pregnant. Saif abandons her and their child but she goes against the society and her family to give birth to the illegitimate child.

Salaam Namaste

Salaam Namaste has Saif and Preity in a live- in relationship and while it has become a common thing now, it was a taboo back then. Both Saif and Preity played their part very effortlessly and highlighted some important issues and shortcomings of a couple when they're living- in together. Preity Zinta's Take on #MeToo India: Edited or Not, The Kal Ho Naa Ho Actress Gets Trolled Badly For Her 'Insensitive' Statements - Read Tweets.

Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna

The Karan Johar- directed movie might have failed at the box office but the kind of relationships it dealt with is something that many of us can relate to. The story of KANK was all about extra- marital affairs and how sometimes, two people realise that they're not meant for each other after getting married and how sometimes, it is ok to let go of the toxic relationship. Bhaiaji Superhit Quick Movie Review: Sunny Deol and Preity Zinta-Starrer is an Unbearable Mess.

Preity was last seen in Bhaiaji Superhit which tanked at the box office. Starring Sunny Deol in the lead, Bhaiaji Superhit was directed by Neerraj Pathak who earlier made the underrated Right Yaa Wrong. The movie features an ensemble cast including Arshad Warsi, Ameesha Patel, Shreyas Talpade, Jaideep Ahlawat, Mukul Dev and Pankaj Tripathi. Anyway, here's wishing the dimpled- beauty a very happy birthday.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 31, 2019 09:56 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).