When the Indian Premier League launched in 2008, it was still an experiment. The tournament needed more than great cricketers; it needed attention, credibility and mainstream appeal. Few people embodied that crossover better than Preity Zinta. Alongside Shah Rukh Khan and a handful of other celebrity owners, she helped transform the IPL into a cultural phenomenon, lending one of the world’s most ambitious sporting ventures the star power that accelerated its rise. Nearly two decades later, while many celebrity associations have faded into the background, Zinta remains deeply involved in the boardroom and on match days, helping guide Punjab Kings through one of cricket’s most dramatic periods of commercial growth.

Since becoming a co-owner of the Punjab franchise in 2008, Zinta has been an active participant in both the strategic and public-facing sides of the business. She has remained closely involved in franchise decisions, represented Punjab Kings at the league level, and become one of the IPL’s most recognisable owners. Her commitment has remained constant through changing leadership, player cycles and the IPL’s transformation into one of the world’s most valuable sporting properties. Beyond India, she and her fellow Punjab Kings owners expanded into franchise cricket by acquiring Saint Lucia Kings in the Caribbean Premier League, further extending their presence across the global T20 ecosystem.

While millions first knew her as one of Bollywood’s biggest stars, Zinta’s career has always reflected a willingness to challenge convention. After making an award-winning debut in 1998, she became one of Hindi cinema’s defining actresses of the 2000s through acclaimed performances in multiple hit films. Many of her most celebrated roles portrayed independent, modern women who defied traditional expectations, earning both commercial success and critical recognition.

Away from the screen, Zinta has built a portfolio that extends well beyond entertainment. She founded the production company PZNZ Media, has supported numerous charitable initiatives focused on women’s empowerment, education and child welfare, and has consistently used her public profile to advocate for social causes. That willingness to engage beyond her profession has mirrored the hands-on approach she has taken in cricket, where she has remained a visible and invested leader rather than a passive owner.

Today, Zinta represents one of the clearest examples of how celebrity ownership in sport can evolve into genuine stewardship. As franchise cricket has expanded from the IPL into a global network of leagues and multi-team ownership groups, she has remained part of that evolution, helping shape one of the sport’s most valuable brands while continuing to serve as one of its most recognisable and influential women.