Zeenat Aman goes down memory lane

Veteran actress Zeenat Aman recently talked about diverse topics, ranging from her love for rice and dal to the effort that unconventional roles in movies demand. Zeenat said, “I am a vegetarian and my favourite food is dal chawal.”

The actress who gave several hits such as Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Hare Rama Hare Krishna, Qurbaani, Dhund, Don, Manoranjan and Yaadon Ki Baarat, was known for doing unconventional roles and breaking the on screen image of traditional Indian women with her bold and bindaas persona.

She added, “I was bold enough to take up roles that other celebrities were hesitant about. When I pause and look back, I feel blessed that I had so many opportunities.”

While talking about her favourite director, she took the name of legendary Raj Kapoor and called him a ‘perfectionist’. Among her most challenging projects, she said, “Satyam Shivam Sundaram and Hare Rama Hare Krishna.”

When asked about the most embarrassing moment of her life, she said, “Most embarrassing moment for me was when people came to me for autographs thinking I was Parveen Babi or Shabana Azmi.” The actress started her career with modelling and also worked as a journalist. “I took up journalism as I love writing,” she revealed.

Role call

On how she bagged Dev Anand’s Hare Rama Hare Krishna, the actress recalled, “The film’s director OP Ralhan knew that Dev Anand was looking for an actress for the film. A lot of them had turned down the role because they wanted to play the romantic lead. So, OP Ralhan organised a meeting with Dev Anand. I was in my room, smoking a pipe, wearing a skirt, and he (Dev Anand) considered me as perfect for the role.” —IANS