Zeenat Aman is perhaps one of the most beautiful, talented and revered actresses in the Indian film Industry. With a career spanning almost 50 years, Zeenat Aman was touted to be one of the most influential actors back in the 1970s and 80s. The actor has starred in over 90 movies and is one of the most loved actors from the industry. Here is a look at Zeenat Aman’s journey through the years in Bollywood:

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Zeenat Aman Filmography

Debut, early years and stardom

Zeenat Aman’s film career began when she first appeared on-screen in O. P. Ralhan’s Hulchul and Hungama in 1971. Both the films were unsuccessful, and she was on the verge of quitting Bollywood and going to Malta. However, when Dev Anand approached her to star in his movie Hare Rama Hare Krishna, she changed her mind. In Hare Rama Hare Krishna, she appeared on-screen during the song Dum Maro Dum and won the hearts of the audience as her role of Jasbir/Janice. She earned the Filmfare Award for the best-supporting actress, for Hare Rama Hare Krishna.

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Following the success, Zeenat Aman and Dev Anand starred in several movies together. In 1973, she starred in Yaadon Ki Baarat as Sunita, and her segment in Chura Liya Hai Tumne Jo Dil Ko made her immensely popular. In 1974, Cine Blitz magazine launched with Zeenat Aman on the cover, adding to her popularity. She also starred in the Raj Kapoor’s movie Satyam Shivam Sundaram, which was heavily criticised.

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Aman also attempted to enter Hollywood with Krishna Shah’s production Shalimar, co-starring Dharmendra, Shammi Kapoor and international actors like Rex Harrison, John Saxon and Sylvia Miles. Shalimar proved to be a box-office bomb in USA and India. In the same year, Zeenat Aman agreed to star in Don. The movie was a commercial success, and her character in the film of a westernised revenge-seeking action heroine helped in the film’s victory at the box-office. She continued to act in box-office throughout the 70s, a few being Dharam Veer, Chhailla Babu and The Great Gambler.

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Further acting, major success and temporary retirement

By the break of the 1980s, multi-starrer films became a trend, and Zeenat Aman was asked to add sex appeal in hero-oriented films. However, in contrast, she was cast as a rape victim in Insaaf Ka Tarazu, which received much recognition. Zeenat Aman then starred in multiple box-office hits such as Qurbani, Alibaba Aur 40 Chor and Laawaris. Her last appearance on-screen was in the 1989 courtroom drama Gawahi, she then took retirement from Bollywood to focus on her wedding with Mazhar Khan.

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Comeback, Cameos and Panipat

She returned to the silver screen with the 1999 film Bhopal Express, in a cameo role. Zeenat Aman received a Lifetime Achievement Award for her contribution to Hindi cinema in the year 2008. In 2019, the news about Zeenat Aman being roped in for Panipat alongside Sanjay Dutt, Padmini Kolhapure, Arjun Kapoor and Kriti Sanon made rounds in media. Aman has been rumoured to have a cameo appearance in the Ashutosh Gowariker period drama. 

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Image Courtesy: IMDb