Never dated a Bollywood actress: Brett Lee breaks silence on Preity Zinta

Cricketer Brett Lee has said he never dated actor Preity Zinta and that they have remained close friends since his Punjab Kings stint. His remarks revisit years of speculation and echo Zinta's earlier public dismissal of the gossip.

In Short

• Brett Lee has reacted to old ating rumours with Preity Zinta
• Lee said public chatter never disturbed him because he knew reality
• In 2010, Zinta had earlier dismissed the gossip as stale and outdated news

Australian cricketer Brett Lee has finally addressed the long-standing dating rumours surrounding actor Preity Zinta. The cricketer clarified that the two are good friends and said he holds immense respect for the actor.

In an interview with Bombay Times, Lee reacted to the dating rumours that surfaced in the early 2000s when he played for Zinta’s Punjab Kings. Years later, the cricketer has now publicly addressed the rumours, putting them to rest.

“Here’s your scoop — I never dated a Bollywood actress. Preity Zinta and I were, and still are, great friends. She was the boss of the Punjab team back then. She’s an incredibly smart woman, and I have a lot of respect for her. Stories like that never bothered me because I always knew the truth. People can speculate all they want, but I never let it affect me,” he said.

Brett Lee-Preity Zinta rumours

Rumours linking Lee and Zinta gained traction between 2008 and 2011, when the cricketer was associated with Punjab Kings. The speculation intensified after the two were clicked together at a restaurant in Mumbai. Addressing the rumours in 2010, Zinta clarified their equation, writing, “I think being romantically linked to Brett every year is outdated and stale news now! So sorry to say folks NO NEWS here! FRIENDS yeesss.”

As for their personal lives, Lee married Elizabeth Kemp in 2006, and the couple welcomed a son. However, they separated after two years and divorced in 2009. He later married Lana Anderson in 2014, and they have two children together.

Zinta married Gene Goodenough in Los Angeles in 2016, and the couple welcomed twins via surrogacy in 2021.

On the work front, she will next be seen in Batwara 1947. The film is slated to release in theatres on August 14.

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