Zeenat Aman

Biography

Zeenat Khan (born 19 November 1951), better known as Zeenat Aman, is an Indian actress, model and beauty pageant titleholder. She first received recognition for her modelling work, and at the age of 19, went on to participate in beauty pageants, winning both the Femina Miss India pageant and the Miss Asia Pacific International pageant in 1970. 

She began her acting career in 1970, and her early works include films such as The Evil Within (1970) and Hulchul (1971). Aman's breakthrough came with the musical drama Haré Rama Haré Krishna (1971), for which she won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Aman established herself as a leading actress in the 1970s with roles in Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973), Roti Kapada Aur Makaan (1974), Ajanabee (1974), Warrant (1975), Chori Mera Kaam (1975), Dharam Veer (1977), Chhailla Babu (1977), Hum Kisise Kum Naheen (1977), and The Great Gambler (1979). For her role in the 1978 film Satyam Shivam Sundaram, she was nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress. 

She also starred as Roma in Don (1978). In the early 1980s, she had leading roles in Abdullah (1980), Alibaba Aur 40 Chor (1980), Qurbani (1980), Dostana (1980), and Insaf Ka Tarazu (1980), the lattermost of which earned her a second nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress. She continued acting in films throughout the early 1980s, with roles in the films Laawaris (1981), Teesri Aankh (1982), Mahaan (1983), Pukar (1983), and Jagir (1984).

Following her marriage to actor Mazhar Khan in 1985, Aman began appearing less frequently in films and took a hiatus in 1989, her last film for that period being Gawaahi (1989). In 1999, Aman made her comeback with the film Bhopal Express. 

Afterward, she did not resume acting until 2003, when she appeared in the film Boom. She has since had roles in various independent films, including Ugly Aur Pagli (2008), Dunno Y... Na Jaane Kyon (2010), Chaurahen (2012), Strings of Passion (2014), Dunno Y2... Life Is a Moment (2015), Dil Toh Deewana Hai (2016), and Sallu Ki Shaadi (2017).

Aside from acting, Aman made her theatre debut in 2004, appearing in the play The Graduate in Mumbai. In 2020, it was announced she would appear in a play about Kasturba Gandhi. She also had a lead role in the 2017 web series Love Life & Screw Ups. Her personal life and experiences with abuse have received extensive media coverage.