Veteran Hindi cinema actress Zeenat Aman was honoured with the 'Amrit Ratna Samman' by TrendKia. On the occasion she thanked TrendKia for the recognition and spoke openly about parts of her life and career that most people are still unaware of. When she first stepped into Hindi cinema, she redefined what a leading lady could be, even though her personal life saw its share of ups and downs.
The Story Behind Her Name And Her Idea Of Faith
Zeenat Aman shared an interesting detail about her family and roots. She revealed that her father was a famous writer and a Muslim, while her mother was a Hindu. Following her mother's tradition, her real name was kept as Laliteshwari. The actress made it clear that she was raised by her Hindu mother.
On the subject of religion, she spoke with complete frankness. 'My mother was a Hindu woman, I was raised by her. I am not religious. I studied in a Catholic school. My exposure is to the entire world. I am not attached to any one religion. All religions are good. No religion tells you to do wrong,' she said, describing humanity itself as her true religion.
Studies, Beauty Pageant And A Chance Entry Into Films
Known widely for her glamorous image, Zeenat Aman was also a bright student. Before acting, she worked in journalism and then brought pride to the country through a beauty pageant. She considers her entry into films a mere coincidence. She recalled that when her principal learnt of her decision to become a heroine, she broke down in tears. According to Zeenat, 'When my principal found out, she cried. She said I could have gone into politics, could have represented our country. It is just a coincidence that I ended up in films.'
Decisions, Hardships And Her Outlook On Life
Asked how she views her decisions and their outcomes, the actress said, 'When you make a decision, you have to be ready for it. Whether it is personal or professional, you have to move with the flow.' Speaking about life's difficulties, she stressed that no matter what happens, one must keep moving forward, calling it a matter of growth and learning from the highs and lows. 'Whatever has happened in your life, you have to keep growing. It is about growth. There are ups and downs, and you learn from them,' she said.
Choosing Films And Favourite Directors
Zeenat said she had her own distinct approach to selecting films. In her words, 'After Hare Rama Hare Krishna, people preferred to cast me in good-bad girl roles. They are not the sati-savitri kind of characters. They have grey shades.' While picking roles, she would observe which filmmaker would make the best film and who was truly passionate about their work. She wanted to work with all the big filmmakers of that era, including Manmohan Desai, Feroz Khan, Raj Kumar and Shammi Kapoor. She also remarked that people often ask about a favourite hero, whereas the real question should be about the favourite director. Working with Dev Anand, Raj Kapoor and Feroz Khan, she said, gave her a wonderful experience.
Advice For Aspiring Actresses
For girls who dream of becoming a heroine, Zeenat Aman's advice is simple yet powerful. 'Do not become anyone's duplicate, present your own originality,' she said.
Famous Songs And Her Take On Beauty
Several of Zeenat Aman's songs remain on people's lips even today. One of them, 'Chura Liya Hai Tumne Jo Dil Ko', is still being recreated even 50 years later. 'A few years ago I read that this is the most famous Hindi song,' she revealed. She always liked to come first, because she wanted her mother to be happy with her. She regards cinema as a business, explaining that if audiences have accepted an artiste in a particular way, filmmakers go along with it, and if someone wants to watch a scene beneath a waterfall, they will keep coming back. On whether beauty is a burden, she answered bluntly, 'No, beauty brings its benefits. It was not me but the producer who took advantage of it.'
A Candid Reply To The Rumours
Talking about the rumours surrounding her life, the actress recalled that a four-page article was once written about her, and people even linked her in a relationship with a man she had never met. 'How many people will you keep answering? Now I say whatever I have to say on Instagram,' she said.
Overnight Stardom With Hare Rama Hare Krishna
After a few early films, Zeenat Aman found real success with Dev Anand's film 'Hare Rama Hare Krishna', which turned her into a star overnight and won her a Filmfare Award. Through the 1970s she delivered several blockbusters such as 'Yadon Ki Baaraat', 'Dharmveer', 'The Great Gambler' and 'Don', while her performance in 'Satyam Shivam Sundaram' was widely talked about.
