Preity Zinta, who have ruled the hearts of many Indians, made a mark on international audience as she was recently awarded with the coveted title of ‘Best Actress’ at 44th Chicago Film Festival. The actress bagged the award following her riveting performance in Deepa Mehta’s ‘Heaven On Earth’. She now becomes the second actress after Shabana Azmi who was honoured with this prestigious award.

This is the second feather added to the actress hat as she was highly appreciated at the Toronto Film Festival early this year. Due credit goes to the pretty Preity who gave her consent to do unconventional role unlikely of her bubbly image. She has been seen experimenting with her acting skills recently as she endorsed the eloquent yet significant characters in The Last Lear, Heroes and Heaven On Earth.

The actress who plays the role of a Punjabi woman, is shown caught up in domestic violence in her household where she is married. The brutalities she faces but the will power that remains unperturbed has been beautifully portrayed by the actress and duly praised by the jury of Chicago Film Festival. She portrays the life of an immigrant bride in Canada struggling to maintain her self efficacy despite immense criticism she faces at her new home.

Priety was seen showing her sense of gratitude to the actor Anupam Kher who helped her in getting Punjabi accent right which was demanded by the role. The actress though was not present at the Film Festival when this announcement was made, was informed by the Director, Deepa Mehta who was all praise for her. “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,” the jubilant Deepa said.

The ecstatic beauty was on top of the world as she commented, “I am walking on sunshine. I can’t believe where I am!”.Preity is indeed making her mark worldwide as she was also recently named as the one of the most influential female business personalities of the world by a foreign magazine being the owner of the IPL Mohali team.