Zeenat Aman - Bollywood Actress ProfileZeenat Aman is a famous Bollywood actress. She was the second runner up in the Miss India Contest and went on to win the Miss Asia Pacific in 1970. Upon making her debut in Bollywood, Aman was credited with bringing the Western heroine look to Hindi cinema, and thorughout her career has been considered a sex symbol.
She's studied in Los Angeles, winning the Miss Asia pageant and a successful modeling career, Aman's film career began with a small role in O. P. Ralhan's Hulchul in 1971 and Hungama in 1971 starring singer Kishore Kumar, was also not successful. However, an error of judgement on actress Zaheeda's part changed the course of Aman's career. Dev Anand offered Zaheeda (his second heroine in Prem Pujari) the role of sister in Hare Rama Hare Krishna (1972). Overlooking the fact that the role was important, Zaheeda wanted the heroine's role (eventually played by Mumtaz), and she opted out. Zeenat was chosen as a last-minute replacement.
In Hare Ram Hare Krishna, Zeenat, aided by R. D. Burman's song "Dum Maro Dum", won over the audience as Janice. Throughout the 1970s, the Dev-Zeenat pairing was seen in half a dozen films: Heera Panna in 1973, Ishq Ishq Ishq in 1974, Prem Shastra in 1974, Warrant in 1975, Darling Darling in 1977 and Kalabaaz in 1977. Of these, Warrant, was the biggest box-office success. Zeenat, in her later career, found success with other banners such as B. R. Chopra, Nasir Hussain, Shakti Samanta, Manoj Kumar and Manmohan Desai.
In 1978, she starred in Raj Kapoor's massively publicised Satyam Shivam Sundaram and the film was not much of a success. The subject ironically dealt with the notion of the soul being more attractive than the body, but Kapoor chose to showcase Zeenat's sex-appeal. The actress was highly criticized for her exposure but somehow, the film is what made her famous later on.
The popular TV reality show Bigg Boss might have some real surprises lined up. Now, the latest information trickling in is that the bollywood diva of yesteryears - Zeenat Aman might be one of the guests in Bigg Boss's house this time around.
Not only that, apart from Zeenat Aman, there are also speculations that Mandakni, the actress who was better known for her skin show in the 70's and the 80's might also be a participant in the show.
Well, looks like the new season of Bigg Boss is leaving no stone unturned to make it a huge hit yet againZeenat's entry into Hollywood also backfired when Krishna Shah's Shalimar in 1978, co-starring Dharmendra and international names like Rex Harrison and Sylvia Milles, proved to be a failure in the USA. Westernised heroines like Parveen Babi and Tina Munim now followed in her footsteps, by the late 1970s. Zeenat continued to act in hits like Dharam Veer and Don.
Unlike her breakthrough roles in the early 1970s, Zeenat was increasingly asked to just provide sex appeal in hero-oriented, multi-star films. In contrast to this trend was her performance as a rape victim seeking justice in B. R. Chopra's Insaaf Ka Tarazu in 1980. This film was followed by success in the love triangle Qurbani in 1980. Zeenat enjoyed a phase of renewed fame when she associated with Sanjay Khan during Abdullah in 1980, a colourful costume drama set in the arid desert. After their relationship ended, Zeenat's career stagnated.
Aman married actor Mazhar Khan at the peak of her career and the couple had two sons. He died in September, 1998 after a prolonged illness. Today, Zeenat lives with her two sons and makes many social appearances. She is seen on screen rarely, in films such as Bhopal Express and the Kaizad Gustad film Boom. In 2006, she acted in the film Jaana - Let's Fall In Love with Rajesh Khanna and recently in 'Ugly and Pagli' which is a 2008 romantic comedy.
Awards and recognitions: 1972 - Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award for 'Hare Rama Hare Krishna'
1972 - BFJA Awards, Best Actress for 'Hare Rama Hare Krishna'
1978 - Filmfare Nomination as Best Actress for 'Satyam Shivam Sundaram'
1980 - Filmfare Nomination as Best Actress for 'Insaaf Ka Tarazu'
2003 - Bollywood Awards 'Award for Lifetime Achievement'- Lifetime of Glamour.
2006 - "Outstanding Contribution to the Motion Picture Industry of India Awards" at the eighth annual Bollywood Movie Awards.
2008 - Zee Cine Award for Lifetime Achievement
Name : Zeenat Aman
Date of Birth : November 19, 1951
Birth of Place : Germany
Height: 5' 9"
Profession : Actress
Education : St. Xavier's School in Mumbai and pursued her higher studies in Los Angeles
Father : Amanullah {One of the writers for Mughal-e-Azam movie}
Mother : A Hindu
Spouse : Mazhar Khan {Film actor - Married in 1985 and divorced in 1998. He died in September, 1998}
Sons : Two sons from Mazhar Khan
Debut Film : Hare Rama Hare Krishna (1972)Hindi
Claim to fame : Miss India (Second runner), Miss Asia Pacific in 1970
