Accidental actor

Zeenat Aman is an actress who has appeared in Bollywood films, notably in the 1970s and 1980s. She was the second runner up in the Miss India Contest and went on to win the Miss Asia Pacific in 1970. Upon making her debut in Bollywood, Aman was credited with bringing the Western heroine look to Hindi cinema.
Zeenat Aman (19 Nov.1951) was born in Germany to a Muslim father, Amanullah Khan and a Hindu mother, Scinda. Her father was one of the writers for the blockbuster movies of Mughal-e-Azam and Pakeezah.
He died when Zeenat was just 13. Her mother married a German, Mr.Heinz (was constantly referred to as Mrs.Heinz in all subsequent articles that film magazines would carry on Zeenat). Zeenat’s mother obtained German citizenship, and took her to Germany – where Zeenat was very unhappy, returning to India as soon as she turned 18.
Aman graduated from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai and went to University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California for further studies on student aid. Upon returning to India, she first took a job as a journalist for Femina and then later on moved on to modelling.
One of the first few brands that she modelled for was Taj Mahal Tea and Television X Debut in 1966, exclusively. She was the second runner up in the Miss India Contest and went on to win the Miss Asia Pacific in 1970.
Aman’s sultry persona was a contrast to many of the more conservative stars of the era. At a time when heroines were obedient wives and lovers on screen, Aman was drawn to more unconventional roles – she was cast as the opportunist who deserts her jobless lover for a millionaire (Roti, Kapda, Aur Makaan), the ambitious girl who considers aborting her baby to pursue a career (Ajnabee), the happy hooker (Manoranjan), the disenchanted hippie (Hare Rama Hare Krishna), the girl who falls in love with her mother’s one-time lover (Prem Shastra), and a woman married to a caustic cripple but involved in an extramarital relationship (Dhund).
She managed to balance these roles with acting in more conventional films such as Chori Mera Kaam, Chhaila Babu, Dostana and Lawaaris, which are considered by many to be landmarks in Indian Cinema.
After having studied in Los Angeles, winning the Miss Asia Pageant and a successful modelling career, Aman’s film career began with a small role in O. P. Ralhan’s Hulchul in 1971. A second role in Hungama (1971), starring singer Kishore Kumar, was also not successful.
Dev Anand offered Zaheeda (his second heroine in Prem Pujari) the role of his sister in Hare Rama Hare Krishna (1972). Not realizing the importance of this secondary role, Zaheeda wanted the lead female part (eventually played by Mumtaz), and she opted out. Aman was chosen as a last-minute replacement.
In Hare Rama Hare Krishna, Aman, aided by R. D. Burman’s song “Dum Maro Dum” (Take Another Toke), won over the hearts of audience as Janice. She earned a Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award and BFJA Award for Best Actress.
Throughout the 1970s, the Dev-Zeenat pairing was seen in half a dozen films: Heera Panna (1973), Ishq Ishq Ishq (1974), Prem Shastra (1974), Warrant (1975), Darling Darling (1977) and Kalabaaz (1977). Of these, Warrant was the biggest box-office success.
Her hippy looks in “Yaadon Ki Baaraat’ (1973) as the girl carrying a guitar, singing ‘churaliya hai tumne jo dil ko’ (in Asha Bhonsle’s voice) has won her more popularity and the hearts of millions of fans.
She appeared on every Hindi film magazine’s cover during the 1970s. In December 1974, Cine Blitz magazine was launched with Zeenat Aman on its cover, a testimony to her popularity at the time. However, she went on as the favourite cover girl of the popular magazine ‘Stardust’.Zeenat married Sanjay Khan (Abbas) during the making of the film Abdullah. Soon after the pack up of the movie, she was assaulted by Sanjay and his wife Zarine during a private party at the Taj Mahal Hotel in Colaba so badly that her eye was damaged – none of the guests intervened.In 1985, she got married to Mazhar Khan and had two sons Azaan and Zahaan. Mazhar Khan died in September 1998 of renal failure.Today, Aman lives with her two sons and makes many social appearances and isalso seen at film awards functions; she is rarely seen on screen.
Her marriage and divorce with Sanjay Khan created a big controversy. Her role in Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1977), where she was featured kissing Shashi Kapoor, was considered quite forward at the time. Though she did receive a Filmfare award nomination for that role.Zeenat Aman has campaigned for D. P. Yadav, a politician and local mafia don who is facing several criminal charges in the May 2007 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. Agency