Zeenat Aman says old-era heroines were reduced to songs, dances and standing beside the hero

In the documentary 'Journey Into India', Zeenat Aman said nearly 90 percent of films in the old era gave actresses roles limited to singing, dancing and appearing around the hero, adding that this picture is now changing.

Zeenat Aman, known for her outspoken posts about old Bollywood, has once again spoken about how limited the roles written for actresses used to be. She said that in earlier decades, actresses in Hindi cinema were handed only a narrow set of parts, though the situation has changed considerably since then.

Aman has played every kind of role across her career. Through the 1970s and 80s she remained a dominant presence on screen and carved out a distinct identity through bold characters. Speaking during the documentary 'Journey Into India', she revealed that for a long stretch of time, most actresses in films were kept around purely for show.

Ninety percent of films, one kind of role
Aman, known for 'Yaadon Ki Baaraat', said that in nearly 90 percent of films, actresses were given characters that made little real contribution to the story. According to her, the heroine's job in that era boiled down to singing songs, dancing and appearing on screen next to the hero. The weight of the story rested almost entirely on the hero's character, while the actress's role stayed confined to his orbit.

A shift now underway
Aman said Bollywood is gradually changing. Today's actresses, she noted, no longer want to be limited to purely glamorous parts, and are instead asking for meatier characters who actually push the story forward. She said several actresses now openly turn down films that don't offer them anything substantial to do. They want roles where their contribution is equal, and where there is genuine work for them to perform.

She added that the encouraging part is that such opportunities are now coming their way. In her view, Indian women deserve to see characters on screen they can actually relate to, rather than characters that exist merely as decoration.

From Miss India to Bollywood stardom
Looking at her own career, Zeenat Aman won the Femina Miss India and Miss Asia Pacific International titles in 1970. She then entered Bollywood in 1971 with the film 'Hulchul'. However, it was Dev Anand's film 'Hare Rama Hare Krishna' that gave her real recognition. She went on to work in several superhit films including 'Yaadon Ki Baaraat', 'Roti Kapada Aur Makaan', 'Ajnabee', 'Warrant', 'Chori Mera Kaam', 'Dharam Veer', 'Chhaila Babu', 'Hum Kisise Kum Naheen' and 'The Great Gambler', establishing herself as one of the most talked-about actresses of Hindi cinema.

Satyam Shivam Sundaram made her an overnight star
Having already made her mark with 'Hare Rama Hare Krishna', Zeenat Aman became an overnight star after playing the character of Roopa in the 1978 film 'Satyam Shivam Sundaram'. After this film, she became a favourite not just of filmmakers but of audiences as well.

Questions & Answers

1. In which documentary did Zeenat Aman make these remarks?
She made these remarks during a conversation as part of the documentary 'Journey Into India'.

2. According to Zeenat Aman, how many films gave actresses limited roles?
She said nearly 90 percent of films gave actresses characters that made little real contribution to the story.

3. What did an actress's role mainly involve in that era?
According to her, it mainly involved singing songs, dancing and appearing on screen around the hero.

4. What change has Zeenat Aman noticed in Bollywood today?
She said today's actresses are demanding stronger, story-driving roles and are turning down films that offer them nothing substantial.

5. How did Zeenat Aman's Bollywood career begin?
She won the Femina Miss India and Miss Asia Pacific International titles in 1970 and made her Bollywood debut with 'Hulchul' in 1971.

6. Which film gave Zeenat Aman her real recognition?
Dev Anand's film 'Hare Rama Hare Krishna' gave her real recognition.

7. Which film made Zeenat Aman an overnight star?
She became an overnight star after playing Roopa in the 1978 film 'Satyam Shivam Sundaram'.

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