Zeenat Aman: still making hearts flutter at 62

Bollywood's original glamour girl Zeenat Aman took Bollywood by storm in the ‘70s with her fearlessness. From the troubled hippie in Hare Rama Hare Krishna to defining female sexuality in Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Zeenat Aman has shattered stereotypes time and time again.

On her 62nd birthday today, here's looking back at her life and times.

Zeenat was born to a Muslim father, Amanullah Khan, and a Hindu mother, Scinda. Amanullah Khan, one of the scriptwriters of films such as Mughal-e-Azam and Pakeezah, died when Zeenat was 13 and her mother then married a German man called Heinz and moved to Germany with Zeenat. The future actress, who was unhappy in her new country, returned to India as soon as she was 18.

After graduating from St Xavier's College in Mumbai, Zeenat Aman went to University of Southern California in Los Angeles. After that, she came back to Mumbai to work as a journalist for Femina. She didn't just land a job there, she scored a cover as well, launching her career as a model. Taj Mahal Tea was an early brand that she modelled for.

In 1970, Zeenat was second runner up in the Miss India pageant and went on to win Miss Asia Pacific that year. She became the second Indian, after Reita Faria, to win an international beauty pageant. She also bagged the Miss Photogenic title.

Producer-director O P Ralhan, a friend of Zeenat Aman's father, gave her the first break in Bollywood with a small part in Hulchul (1971). He cast her again in Paapi (1977) and Pyaas (1982).

Zeenat Aman also tried her hand at comedy in Hungama (1971) opposite Kishore Kumar but had no luck at the box-office. Meanwhile, O P Ralhan helped her meet Dev Anand at a party. Dev Anand was then looking for someone to play his sister in what was to become the cult classic Hare Rama Hare Krishna.

Zeenat played the now classic role of drug addled, troubled hippie Janice and there was no looking back for her after that. Before Hare Rama Hare Krishna released, she had given up on her movie career and was all set to move back to Germany. Dev Anand persuaded her to stay on till the film released and she did – with the happiest possible ending. The film made her a huge star and she won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Next came Nasir Husain's lost-and-found tale Yaadon Ki Baarat (1973) and Zeenat could do no wrong at the box-office. Among the memorable songs from the movie was the evergreen Chura Liya Hai, picturised on Zeenat and costar Vijay Arora.

Zeenat then teamed up with Dev Anand again in Heera Panna (1973), this time playing his love interest and a thief to boot. The film is best remembered for her bikini moment.

She continued to make unconventional movie choices with B R Chopra's thriller Dhund (1973) in which she played an adulteress trying to get rid of her husband.

In Manoj Kumar multi-starrer Roti, Kapda Aur Makaan (1974), she played an opportunist who dumps her unemployed boyfriend for a millionaire.

The late Shammi Kapoor made his directorial debut with Manoranjan (1974), a remake of Hollywood classic Irma La Douce. Zeenat's westernised sensibilities and willingness to show a bit of skin in Manoranjan shook up Bollywood. By then, the line between the heroine and the vamp had begun to blur.

Dev Anand and Zeenat made a few more movies together – Warrant (1975), in which Zeenat played an assassin, Kalabaaz (1977) and Darling Darling (1977).

Dharmendra and Zeenat made a foray into Hollywood with Shalimar (1978) also starring Shammi Kapoor and Sir Rex Harrison, but the movie bombed at the box-office.

Then came the role that was to define Zeenat Aman forever – Raj Kapoor presented female sexuality in all its glory in Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1978). The film made no dent in the box-office but earned a degree of notoriety with its risque scenes, bringing down the wrath of the Censor Board. Zeenat had to fight off tough competition from other actresses to land the part of Rupa – she reportedly got it by showing up at RK Studios in a ghagra-choli and some burnt paper stuck on her face. Raj Kapoor was duly impressed and signed her on.

Then came the role that was to define Zeenat Aman forever – Raj Kapoor presented female sexuality in all its glory in Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1978). The film made no dent in the box-office but earned a degree of notoriety with its risque scenes, bringing down the wrath of the Censor Board. Zeenat had to fight off tough competition from other actresses to land the part of Rupa – she reportedly got it by showing up at RK Studios in a ghagra-choli and some burnt paper stuck on her face. Raj Kapoor was duly impressed and signed her on.

Big B and Zeenat appeared together again in The Great Gambler (1979), in which Zeenat played a club dancer.

Actor-director Feroz Khan cast Zeenat as the focus of a love triangle involving himself and Vinod Khanna in Qurbani (1980). Zeenat played Sheela, a club singer and dancer and her white bikini from the film was the talk of the town.

Much as she tried, Zeenat was never able to shed the sex symbol tag. She tried an image makeover with Insaaf Ka Tarazu (1980) but was only partly successful. In the movie, she plays a courageous rape victim who ultimately kills her rapist.

Zeenat and Amitabh made a number of movies together in the early ‘80s including Lawaaris (1981), Pukar (1983) and Mahaan (1983). But Zeenat's shine had dimmed a little and her career hit a speedbreaker.

The 70s belonged to Zeenat but things weren't as great off screen. She was still looking for Mr Right at the peak of her movie career when along came already-married Sanjay Khan who cast her in Abdullah (1980).

Love blossomed on set and was reportedly even followed by a secret wedding. But there was no happy ending in store for Zeenat who was allegedly assaulted by Sanjay and first wife Zarine at the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai, leaving her eye permanently damaged.

Zeenat made a second go at marriage with Mazhar Khan in 1985. He was already married and 10 years younger. They had 2 sons, Azaan and Zahaan, but things fell apart after. By 1998 they were divorced and Zeenat was allegedly assaulted by her in-laws and elder son Azaan. Mazhar Khan died soon after of renal failure.

Meanwhile, Zeenat was in a relationship with the much younger Zaheer Aslam who has been blamed for the rift between Zeenat and her family.

Earlier this year, she was linked to a real-estate dealer Sarfaraz Ahsan Ahmed, but the actress vehemently denied the reports.

After a long hiatus from Bollywood, Zeenat made a comeback with Bhopal Express in 1999.

She then made a string of poor to middling movies including Kaizad Gustad's much hyped Boom (2003) with Amitabh Bachchan, Sirf Romance: Love By Chance (2007) and Ugly Aur Pagli (2008).

The actress will reportedly will be seen next in the sequel to the 2010 gay film Dunno Y...Na Jaane Kyun. She will play a Pakistani woman in the movie.

In 2008, Zeenat Aman received the Zee Cine Lifetime Achievement Award for her contribution to Hindi cinema. In 2010, she was presented with An Outstanding Contribution to Indian Cinema award at IIFA awards.