World Desired Youth And Beauty From Women In Film Industry: Zeenat Aman Talks About Her Days In Bollywood

Zeenat Aman talked about how people were "far more interested" in her appearance than her intellect.

New Delhi: Veteran actor Zeenat Aman talked about how people were "far more interested" in her appearance than her intellect when she was still working in Bollywood. In a recent interview, Zeenat stated that while making the most of her looks, she "chose roles that pushed the envelope."

In an interview with Vogue India, Zeenat said, "I realised early on that the world desired youth and beauty from women in the film industry. So I leveraged my looks, but I also chose roles that pushed the envelope. Still, there was far more interest in my face and figure than there ever was in my intellect. This is one reason that I have loved ageing—it has evened the scales."

“I have led a life of breathtaking highs and profound lows. There is nothing I regret, and nobody that I owe. Any shame or fear that has ever dogged me has long evaporated. There are incidents in my life that the public cling to and that are dredged up again and again. I am aware of these, and becoming increasingly immune to them. My life is not defined by a few bad days that transpired many decades ago, and I need neither sympathy nor defence. I am content in myself,” she added.

In 1970, Zeenat competed in the Femina Miss India pageant as part of her modelling debut and won the second spot. She later participated in and won the Miss Asia Pacific International pageant, making history as the first Femina Miss India titleholder to do so. With the release of 'Hare Rama Hare Krishna' in 1971, Zeenat rose to fame. Since then she worked in many films such as Yaadon Ki Baaraat, Chori Mera Kaam, Dharam Veer, Satyam Shivam Sundaram and Don.