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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. The Dev-Zeenat pair was seen in half a dozen
films: Heera Panna (1973), Ishq Ishq Ishq (1974), Prem Shastra (1974), Warrant
(1975), Darling Darling (1977), Kalabaaz (1977). Baring Warrant, none of them
could warrant success at the box-office.
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.
Title's Won:
| Miss India 1971 | Miss Asia 1971 |
Zeenat Aman's Hit Movies
- 1972 Hare Rama Hare Krishna
- 1973 Dhund
- 1973 Yaadon Ki Baraat
- 1974 Manoranjan
- 1974 Roti Kapda Aur Makaan
- 1977 Dharam Veer
- 1978 Don
- 1978 Satyam Shivam Sundaram
- 1980 Qurbani
- 1980 Insaaf Ka Tarazu
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