Television -- last resort for Bollywood's heroines?

The news that Preity Zinta had taken up a television show was nothing short of a shocker. While some may say this clearly meant film offers had become few and far in between, the bubbly actress says she's just using the time she has before the IPL begins.

Preity, who's hosting Guinness World Records Ab India Todega, recently clarified in a magazine interview, 'I didn't want to take up anything that would clash with IPL. I want to give undivided attention to the IPL but that wouldn't be possible if I signed a movie at this time.'

Whatever her reason, Preity is not alone in following this trajectory. Increasingly, Bollywood's actresses are turning to television once their filmi careers start petering out. We start with Preity herself:

Preity Zinta

Although this dimpled beauty gained recognition early on with her Liril ad, she ventured into films much later with Kya Kehna (her first release, however, was Shah Rukh Khan's Dil Se).

After witnessing a meteoric rise with films like Kal Ho Na Ho and Koi... Mil Gaya, she took a couple of missteps with the disastrous Jhoom Barabar Jhoom and Heroes. Her decision to take up films like Main aur Mrs Khanna, Dil Ne Jise Apna Kaha and Jaan-E-Man did not help matters.

Preity turned to alternative cinema but, unfortunately, The Last Lear and Heaven On Earth didn't help her career.

Her film with Shiney Ahuja, Har Pal, ran into trouble when Shiney was charged with (and convicted) with raping his domestic help. Three years on, it is yet to see the light of the day.

Now, Preity devotes all her free time to her IPL team, Kings XI Punjab.