The 1998 Bollywood action thriller Soldier, starring Bobby Deol and Preity Zinta, became a major success, grossing over ₹37 crore against a modest ₹8 crore budget. The film's strong storyline, direction by Abbas-Mustan, and superb performances won it six prestigious awards, including the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut for Preity Zinta.

Interestingly, the lead female role was initially offered to two prominent star sisters, Kareena Kapoor and Karisma Kapoor, but both declined due to family decisions and fee disputes, respectively. Kareena's mother felt it was too soon for her then 16-year-old daughter to enter films, and Karisma reportedly turned down the role over payment disagreements.

Preity Zinta’s entry into the film proved to be a breakthrough in her career, and her chemistry with Bobby Deol was widely appreciated. The film also featured a strong supporting cast comprising Rakhee Gulzar, Farida Jalal, Suresh Oberoi, Ashish Vidyarthi, Sharat Saxena, and Dalip Tahil. Bobby Deol’s film Animal in 2023 reignited his stardom, but Soldier remains one of his defining hits with lasting impact.