Zeenat Aman is one of the unconventional actresses of Indian cinema, who has boldly portrayed glamorous characters with charm. With an acting career spread over almost 20 years, she appeared in many Hindi films starring with some of the most handsome and popular actors of Bollywood. She was born in Germany to Amanullah Khan- script writer of Pakeezah and Mughal-E-Azam- and Scinda. She completed her studies in India and Los Angeles.
She started her career in media as a writer for the fashion magazine Femina. Later on she moved on to modeling and created a successful career as a model. That’s when Zeenat won the Asia Pacific Pageant in 1970 and soon after, received film offers as an actress.
Zeenat Aman might not have a lot of awards to her credit but she definitely changed the way the Indian actresses were featured in Hindi films. Entering Bollywood in the early ’70s, she could very well manage to divert the attention of audiences and critics through unconventional portrayal of women. She reflected the rebellious youth of the ’70s through Hare Rama Hare Krishna also gave some of the memorable songs through that film. Dum Maro Dum and Phoolon Ka Taaron Ka, the two popular songs, feature the rebellious and soft, loving side of her character, beautifully portrayed, in the film. The film is considered to be a classic in Bollywood.
She introduced the modern young woman who would dress up in stylish apparels and flaunt her sensuality. Through the film Yaadon Ki Baaraat, Zeenat Aman, became more popular and the image of a young woman carrying a guitar was widely accepted. Chura Liya Hai Tumne became the chartbuster in that year and people continue to listen to this romantic number even today. She became the cover image for many Indian magazines due to her unparalleled popularity among the youth.
Her image as a sex symbol was established with the release of the film Satyam Shivam Sundaram in the year 1978. The film intended to show the soul being more attractive than the body. Her stunning performances continued in the classic film Don starring Amitabh Bachchan. She took up films which had both the traditional looking and the independent woman.
Zeenat Aman was truly a diva in those times and continues to be looked up to by young generation actresses. She has done roles which were completely in contrast done by her contemporaries other than Prveen Babi. By giving peppy and romantic numbers like Aap Jaisa Koi, Do Labzon Ki Hain, Hum Dono Do Premi, Panna Ki Tamanna, Satyam Shivam Sundaram and Haey Haey Ye Majboori, she shares the seat of the most sensuous actress of Bollywood with Parveen Babi.