In a moving Instagram post, veteran actress Zeenat Aman has opened up about the often-overlooked struggles of her life, providing a stark contrast to the glamorous image she is widely known for. The 72-year-old icon, known for her captivating roles in classic films like “Don,” “Qurbani,” and “Hare Rama Hare Krishna,” gave a frank account of the difficulties she faced when work dried up and the harsh reality of aging became inevitable.
Zeenat Aman, who frequently uses her social media platform to share personal anecdotes and life lessons, delved into a particularly arduous period in her latest post. “It would be dishonest of me to project a life of uninterrupted glamour and composure. I know how it looks of course. Here is a woman who reached the pinnacle of stardom in her youth and is now enjoying a renaissance in her old age. Sure, those much retold, often contorted, episodes of personal tragedy are widely known, but they’re merely footnotes now. Little stories that only serve to accentuate the heights one has achieved,” she began her heartfelt message.
This striking acknowledgment shifted to discuss a difficult phase where opportunities dwindled, and existence became a daily struggle. “This then is a frank acknowledgment of the difficult phase. Those excruciating weeks that turned to months that turned to years. The time when the work dried up, the body aged, and one felt their relevance slip away. At first, there was the sheer relief of anonymity. But then came the fear of how to keep food on the table. With no husband to turn to, no sibling to lean on, and two helpless children to provide for, it was terrifyingly lonely.”
The decline in work offers forced the actress to take on any job available, irrespective of the prestige or lack thereof. “Those were the years I took pretty much any work that came my way. I did not have the luxury of discernment or whimsy. It was bone-rattling drives to nondescript towns for event appearances, accommodation at no-star hotels with filthy sheets, trite renditions of ‘chura liya’ in smelly halls, poorly drafted scripts that pushed me to the edge of sanity, being jostled like a prop during stifling photo ops… and then there were the other odd jobs. Teaching poise and etiquette, writing agony aunt columns, even narrating audiotapes.
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Despite the less-than-glamorous nature of these endeavors, Aman expressed her gratitude for those who helped her during this challenging time. “This was life as a ‘has been’ and I find no shame in it. I am grateful to those organizers who offered me jobs, to those fans that turned up to attend those events, for those laughable paycheques that kept the lights on in my apartment.”
She elaborated on why she felt it was essential to share this side of her story now. “This caption is my assertion of two matters. That there is dignity in all labour. And that, with some persistence and luck, the tough times can ease. I am wildly picky about work now. The kids reject half a dozen collaborations and requests on my behalf every day. It is a privilege I enjoy, but do not take for granted,” she concluded.
Zeenat Aman’s reflections are not just a personal disclosure but also a broader commentary on the entertainment industry’s transient nature. Her words highlight the behind-the-scenes struggles that aren’t visible through the lens of stardom.
Born in 1951, Aman became an icon of Bollywood in the 1970s, acclaimed not just for her beauty but her revolutionary roles that often pushed societal boundaries. However, life took a challenging turn following her marriage to actor Mazhar Khan in 1985. Post-marriage, Aman’s presence in films became sporadic, and she took a hiatus in 1989.
In her candid Instagram post, Zeenat provides a window into the resilience required to navigate the arc of fame—a blend of glory, struggle, and eventual resurgence. At 72, she has emerged on the other side, her spirit unbroken and her perspective enriched.
The heartfelt post has been met with an outpouring of support and admiration from her fans. It serves as a source of inspiration for many who face their own periods of hardship and for those who look to find dignity in all forms of labour.
In today’s world, Zeenat Aman stands as a testament to the power of perseverance, offering a narrative that is as empowering as it is enlightening.
