Zeenat Aman

Zeenat Aman: the sensual

From portraying the gutsy hippie in Hare Rama Hare Krishna to the sensuous nightclub singer in Qurbani to the sex symbol in Satyam Shivam Sundaram Zeenat Aman was the embodiment of exotic yet earthly Indian sensuality. Born on 19 November 1951, in Germany, and nicknamed Babushka the ‘laila’ of Qurbani shot to fame with her first film itself. With a string of beauty pageant victories (she was Miss India 1971 and Miss Asia 1971) Zeenat was one of the biggest hot-steppers on the ramp till Dev Anand, who was on the lookout for a chic vibrant debutante in his film Hare Ram Hare Krishna gave her a new lease of life.

Her first on screen appearance instantly catapulted her to the upper echelons of sensuality and success. Her on screen erotica and off screen mystique sent her zooming through the popularity charts, carving a unique image for herself. Not just an epitome of beauty, she was ensconced in an aura of sophistication and flawlessness. Zeenat Aman ruled the roost throughout her springing career.

Not only made her the reigning sex siren it also got her the coveted National Award for the Best Supporting Actress. She was the Dum Maro Dum girl, who gave her best even in the role of an illiterate girl in Manoranjan. Films like Yaadon ki Baraat (1973), Dhund (1973) and Roti Kapda aur Makaan (1974) sent her success graph soaring to dizzying heights.

Happiness was short lived when she married Sanjay Khan and bid adieu to the film industry. Her tryst with domesticity ended on a rough note with her personal life hitting rock bottom. But the will to survive saw her storm back into the industry with Insaaf Ka Tarazu (1980) and Qurbani (1981). She played leading lady to the likes of Amitabh Bachchan in Don and Lawaris, which also gave a major boost to her career. Her films Dostana, The Great Gambler, Ram Balram and Dharam Veer however went largely unnoticed.

After a rise in her career again Zeenat married Mazhar Khan and was happily settled with her two sons Azhar and Azaan when fate played truant once again. Mazhar was ill with liver dysfunction and Zeenat spent all her savings for his treatment. The disease however was fatal. Mazhar Khan passed away. What followed was five traumatic years when her in-laws defamed her in public, snatched her son and brainwashed him to the extent that he refused to back to his mother and even abused her. The world too believed her to be scheming and money minded who lost her husband due to callousness.

Within a span of two years she lost her husband, her mother, and her son got estranged. Life was at its worse and it was high time that Zeenat with the help of her former friends like Dimple Kapadia decided to let the world know her side of the story. She called a press conference and clarified all the allegations leveled against her.

Time heals all wounds. Zeenat Aman today is a contented woman. She has got back her son and lives happily with her two children in her own house. "Yes, I can finally say that I am at peace. I have the security of my children and a home. I will always miss Mazhar in my life", she says.

Nearly a decade and a half later Zeenat is facing the camera lights again with her program on the small screen titled In Conversation with Zeenat (as suggested by her sons). Her make-up crew and other behind-the-camera people suggested very glamorous makeup and costumes for her but she kept all that to a bare minimum. "I am not young anymore. Though I firmly that there is only one life, and we should live it to the fullest".

By Vidya Sampat & Lavanya Varadrajan

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