Before entering the entertainment industry, this actress briefly worked as a journalist for Femina Magazine.
Zeenat Aman is one of the most iconic actresses of 70s and 80s. Her beauty, boldness and grace made her one of the most popular actresses of her time. Her performance in the evergreen song ‘Chura Liya Hai Tumne Jo Dil Ko’ from the film Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973) is still etched in our hearts.
Zeenat Aman was born as Zeenat Khan in Bombay on 19 November 1951, to a Pathan Muslim father, Amanullah Khan and a Maharashtrian Hindu Brahmin mother, Vardhini Scindia Scharwächter. Her father, was a screenwriter for movies such as Mughal-e-Azam (1960) and Pakeezah (1972). Zeenat later adopted her father’s surname ‘Aman’, which she started using as her screen name.
Zenat’s parents divorced when she was young. She was just 13 when her father died. She did her schooling in Panchgani and went to University of Southern California in Los Angeles for further studies, but could not complete her graduation. Before entering the entertainment industry, the glamour icon briefly worked as a journalist for Femina Magazine.
In 1970, Zenat Aman participated in the Femina Miss India pageant, where son won, the Miss Asia Pacific International title. She is the first South Asian woman to secure the title.
After wining the pageant, Zeenat Aman began acting and her debut film was The Evil Within (1970) alongside Dev Anand. In the same year, she appeared opposite Vinod Khanna in Hulchul. Both films turned out to be a flops at the box office.
In 1971, Zeenat Aman appeared in Hare Rama Hare Krishna, alongside Dev Anand and Mumtaz. The film created a stir at the box office after its opening release. Her performance in the film made her an overnight sensation. Dev Anand initially offered Zeenat’s role to Mumtaz, who declined and said that she would not play the role of his sister. Mumtaz instead played Dev Anand’s wife in the film.
After starring in superhits such as Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Don, Qurbani, Dharam Veer, Ajanabee, the actress gained immense stardom and is till date considered one of the most prolific actors in the history of Indian cinema.
