>Zudo: Reverted good faith edits by 2A01:E0A:572:66C0:7CC8:6BF8:6DFA:ACC (talk)

2021-06-25T14:41:31Z

Reverted good faith edits by 2A01:E0A:572:66C0:7CC8:6BF8:6DFA:ACC (talk)

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{{EngvarB|date=October 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Infobox person
| image = Preeti Desai.jpg
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes |1981|09|29}}
| birthname = Preeti Desai
| birth_place = [[Middlesbrough]], England
| nationality = British
| years_active = 2011–present
| occupation = Actress/model
| height = {{cvt|5|ft|8|in}}
}}

'''Preeti Desai''' ({{lang-gu|પ્રીતિ દેસાઇ}}; born 29 September 1981) is a British actress, model, and former [[Miss Great Britain]] of [[Gujarati people|Gujarati]] Indian descent. She made history by becoming the first woman of Indian origin to win the title.<ref name="sepiamutiny2006">{{cite web|url=http://www.sepiamutiny.com/sepia/archives/004009.html|title=First Miss Great Britain of Indian origin|date=5 December 2006|publisher=Sepia Mutiny}}</ref>

Known for starring in [[Damien Chazelle]]'s 2020 film ''[[The Stunt Double]]'' commissioned by [[Apple Inc.|Apple]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2020/08/damien-chazelle-releases-short-film-shot-iphone-1234578609/|title=Damien Chazelle Releases Short Film Shot in iPhone in Vertical Display|first=Tyler|last=Hersko|date=6 August 2020|website=IndieWire}}</ref>

Desai made her acting debut with acclaimed film ''[[Shor in the City]]'' (2011) and was nominated for Best Lead Actress at the South Asian Rising Star Film Awards in New York City in October 2012.
Desai is listed as the ''Times of India''<nowiki/>'s 50 Most Desirable Women and ''People'' Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People in 2011.<ref name="timesofindia.indiatimes.com">{{cite news| url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/celebs/Times-Most-Desirable-Women-of-2011-Preeti-Desai--No-50/videoshow/11759036.cms | work=The Times of India | title=Times Most Desirable Women of 2011: Preeti Desai – No.50 – Video}}</ref>

Desai resides between Los Angeles and London. She was a roommate of [[Freida Pinto]].<ref>{{Cite news|url= https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/vogue-meets-freida-pinto |title= Freida Pinto On Life In Hollywood Post-Me Too |first=Kelsey|last=McKinnon|date=31 January 2019|website=Vogue}}</ref>

==Early life==
Desai was born in [[Middlesbrough]], [[North Yorkshire]], England to Hemlata ([[née]] Niak) and Jitendra, who have a pyrotechnics company.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/how-an-asian-immigrant-grew-up-to-be-miss-great-britain-425754.html|title=How an Asian immigrant grew up to be Miss Great Britain|work=[[The Independent]]|date=25 November 2006|location=London|first=Ian|last=Herbert}}</ref> Both of her parents are of Gujarati descent; her father is from [[Kenya]] and her mother is from Uganda. Her younger sibling Anjlee Desai, is a singer and songwriter.

Desai attended St Augustine's RC Primary School in [[Coulby Newham]], then to Nunthorpe Secondary school in [[Nunthorpe]], and Middlesbrough College.

==Career==

===Miss Great Britain (2006–2007)===
Desai was crowned Miss Cleveland and then went on to win Miss Great Britain in 2007. As a British Indian, she was the first woman of Indian heritage to win the title.<ref name="sepiamutiny2006"/> She was crowned Miss Great Britain after the previous winner was disqualified and the country voted her to take over as the winner.

Desai moved to London from the North East of England to carry out her role as ambassador of Miss Great Britain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.middlesbrough.towntalk.co.uk/about/fame/773/preeti-desai/|title=Preeti Desai, Middlesbrough|website=Middlesbrough Town Walk|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519195725/http://www.middlesbrough.towntalk.co.uk/about/fame/773/preeti-desai/}}</ref>

Desai supported organisations like Mind<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://forum.kitecrowd.com/kiting-news/kitetherapy-121294.html|title=Kitetherapy!|website=Kitecrowd Kite Forum|language=en|access-date=20 August 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305025657/http://forum.kitecrowd.com/kiting-news/kitetherapy-121294.html|archive-date=5 March 2016}}</ref> and Carers Week, which took her to 10 Downing Street to have tea with then Prime Minister [[Gordon Brown]] to highlight the work of the charities, and to the Houses of Parliament to get MPs to team up with her in support of Carers Week.

===Modelling===
Desai moved to Mumbai in 2008 to start her career as a fashion model. Being represented by ace photographer [[Atul Kasbekar]], she appeared on the cover of L'officiel magazine with super star [[Shah Rukh Khan|Shahrukh Khan]] as her 1st assignment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.google.co.in/imgres?imgurl=http://lh3.google.com/callravi/RvEcz4VyV5I/AAAAAAAADk8/GKF9hiqRrbk/laofi.jpg&imgrefurl=http://bolllywood.blogspot.com/2007/09/bollywood-officially-enters-lofficiel.html&usg=__S_cbTiLwe-6FVbBbCfqG2LXdoIU=&h=243&w=502&sz=34&hl=en&start=20&zoom=1&tbnid=26IIesNWeZZoGM:&tbnh=63&tbnw=130&ei=QT-GUM7bKNDorQfe-YGIBw&itbs=1|title=Bollywood Officially Enters L'Officiel|date=19 September 2007|accessdate=27 October 2012}}{{dead link|date=March 2021}}</ref> That assignment was followed right away with her 2nd assignment: the Kingfisher Calendar 2008. Desai was also selected to be solely on the cover of the Kingfisher Calendar special edition.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bollywoodmantra.com/picture/preeti-desai-september-kingfisher-calendar-2008-1/|title=Preeti Desai September Kingfisher Calendar 2008 Photo|website=Bollywood Mantra}}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=March 2021}}

In the same year, Desai appeared on the October cover of ''[[Cosmopolitan (magazine)|Cosmopolitan]]'' magazine.{{citation needed|date=October 2017}} Desai soon became a favourite in the Indian fashion industry and walked for many famous designers and fashion weeks and appeared on more magazine covers.

In October 2009, Desai was announced as the new face of the retail apparel company [[Provogue]] along with Indian actor [[Hrithik Roshan]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/getpage.aspx?articles=yes&pageid=35&max=true&articleid=Ar03500&sectid=26edid=&edlabel=TOIM&mydateHid=27-09-2009&pubname=Times+of+India+-+Mumbai+-+Bombay+Times&title=New+women+in+Provogue%E2%80%99s+life!&edname=&publabel=TOI |title=New women in Provogues life! |date=27 September 2009 |access-date=19 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140713204727/http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/getpage.aspx?articles=yes |archive-date=13 July 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Desai was also featured with Italian designer Leonardo Ferragamo of [[Salvatore Ferragamo Italia S.p.A.|Salvatore Ferragamo]] for ''L'Officiel'' magazine and walked for fashion designer [[Christopher Kane]] in a Fashion Week.

Desai got herself a super model status in India in a short span of two years before she started acting for her first feature film in 2011.

===Film debut (2011)===
Desai made her film debut in a feature film ''[[Shor in the City]]'' which was released in April 2011. It is directed by [[Raj Nidimoru]] and [[D. K.Krishna]], and is produced by [[Balaji Telefilms]]' [[Ekta Kapoor]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://miaacfilmfest.org/OpeningNightGala.htm|title=NOISE (SHOR) Directed by Raj Nidimoru & Krishna DK|publisher=Mahindra Indo-American Arts Council Film Festival|date=November 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.is/20101018225933/http://miaacfilmfest.org/OpeningNightGala.htm|archivedate=18 October 2010|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/slideshow/2011/04/18/883/index1.html|title='I am not considering Shor in the City as my debut film' – Preeti Desai|date=18 April 2011|first=Devansh|last=Patel|access-date=21 April 2011|website=Bollywood Hungama|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501072732/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/slideshow/2011/04/18/883/index1.html|archive-date=1 May 2011}}</ref> Desai plays the role of the female protagonist Sharmili opposite Indian-American actor [[Sendhil Ramamurthy]].<ref>{{IMDb title|1581639}}</ref> The film is a thriller drama, set in contemporary Mumbai with three separate but interrelated storylines, of which one is in English and the other two are in Hindi.

The film and Desai's performance got rave reviews by critics and audience alike with an average star rating of 4, stating Desai had great screen presence.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/hindi/Shor-in-the-City/movie-review/8107098.cms |title=Shor in the City movie review: Wallpaper, Story, Trailer at Times of India |work=The Times of India |accessdate=5 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/review-shor-in-the-city/20110428.htm |title=Review: Shor In The City is brilliant stuff! |publisher=Rediff.com |date=28 April 2011 |accessdate=5 August 2012}}</ref>

Desai was nominated for Best Lead Actress at the South Asian Rising Star Film Awards in New York in October 2012 presented by SAIFF and ''HBO''. ''Shor in the City'' was officially selected for the [[Pusan International Film Festival]] and the [[Dubai International Film Festival]] in 2011. The film won the Best Director Award at ''MIAAC'' in New York.<ref>{{cite web|title=Shor in the City: Cricket inspires Bollywood|url=http://www.sawfnews.com/Bollywood/66675.aspx|publisher=Sawf News|accessdate=6 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430144811/http://www.sawfnews.com/Bollywood/66675.aspx|archive-date=30 April 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2014, Desai was seen in the lead role opposite [[Abhay Deol]] for the feature film titled ''[[One by Two (2014 film)|One by Two]]'' directed by [[Devika Bhagat]] and produced by Amit Kapoor.<ref name="releasedateindia.in">{{Cite web|url=http://releasedateindia.in/movie/one-by-two-release-date/|title=Contact Support|website=releasedateindia.in|access-date=20 August 2017}}</ref>

In 2017, Desai played the role of Jen Green in the thriller ''The Bachelor Next Door'' directed by ''Michael Feifer''. The film starred [[Michael Welch (actor)|Michael Welch]], Tyler Johnson, and [[Haylie Duff]]. Her other work includes ''The Work Wife'' on ''Amazon Prime'', where she played the role of Katie, and ''Saving My Baby'' on Lifetime.

In 2019, Desai shot for the comedy pilot series ''Woman Up'' written and directed by [[Zoe Lister-Jones]] for [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] and [[20th Century Fox Television]]. The series features [[Mary Elizabeth Ellis]] and [[Tawny Newsome]] as her co-stars.

Desai stars in [[Damien Chazelle]]'s 2020 ''[[The Stunt Double]]'' produced and distributed by [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] Cinematography by ''[[Linus Sandgren]]'' Composer original music by ''[[Lorne Balfe]]''.

==Public image==
Desai was listed as one of ''Time''<nowiki/>'s 50 Most Desirable Women and ''People'' magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People in 2011.<ref name="timesofindia.indiatimes.com"/>

''[[Esquire (magazine)|Esquire]]'' magazine featured Desai as 'A Woman we love' and wrote "The first thing you notice about Preeti Desai are her slinky long legs, model physique and huge doe-like brown eyes. Then she opens her mouth and a strong Northern English accent burst out – a nostalgic flashback reminiscent of the old [[Boddingtons]] adverts that featured glamorous, sophisticated women but, humorously, with pronounced Manchester accents. The down-to-earth naughty humoured breath of fresh air walk's in and preambles."{{citation needed|date=October 2017}}

Top Indian designer [[Anita Dongre]] known for never using showstoppers in her runway shows, for the first time in August 2012 asked Desai to close the show at fashion week. Questioning Dongre on why she wanted Desai to don the final piece, Anita Dongre said "I saw no one else but Preeti in my showstopper design, she makes all my designs look beautiful, and she has the right elegance, confidence and poise."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://movies.ndtv.com/movie_story.aspx?Section=Movies&ID=251577&subcatg=&keyword=Bollywood&nid=251577 |title=Fashion week report: Pristine Preeti Desai is Anita Dongre's showstopper |date=6 August 2012 |website=NDTV Movies |location=Mumbai |agency=Indo-Asian News Service |access-date=22 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.is/20130129170458/http://movies.ndtv.com/movie_story.aspx?Section=Movies&ID=251577&subcatg=&keyword=Bollywood&nid=251577 |archive-date=29 January 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#CCC; text-align:center;"
! Year!! Film !! Role !! Other notes
|-
|2020
|''The Stunt Double''
|Leading Lady
|Director Damien Chazelle - Commissioned by Apple
|-
|2019
|''Woman Up''
| Claudia
| Post production
|-
|2018
|''The Work Wife''
|Katie Williams
|Amazon Prime
|-
|2018
|''Saving My Baby''
|Dr Desai
|Lifetime
|-
|2017
|''The Bachelor Next Door''
|Jennifer Green
|Lifetime
|-
|2014
| ''[[One By Two (2014 film)|One by Two]]''
| Samara Patel
| Netflix
|-
| 2011
| ''[[Shor in the City]]''
| Shalmili
| <br> Nominated Best Lead Actress at South Asian Rising Star Film Awards in New York 2012
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Preeti Desai}}
* {{Official website|http://www.preetidesai.co/}}
* {{IMDb name|3819588}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-hon}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Danielle Lloyd]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Miss Great Britain]]|years=2006}}
{{s-aft|after=Rachael Tennent}}
{{s-end}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Desai, Preeti}}
[[Category:English people of Gujarati descent]]
[[Category:English female models]]
[[Category:English film actresses]]
[[Category:British actresses of Indian descent]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:English Hindus]]
[[Category:English beauty pageant winners]]
[[Category:Actors from Middlesbrough]]
[[Category:1981 births]]

Preeti Desai - Revision history

>Zudo: Reverted good faith edits by 2A01:E0A:572:66C0:7CC8:6BF8:6DFA:ACC (talk)