Zeenat Aman

Zeenat Khan (born 19 November 1951), better known as Zeenat Aman, is an Indian actress, model and beauty pageant titleholder.

Zeenat Aman was born as Zeenat Khan in Bombay on 19 November 1951.

Born to a Muslim father, Amanullah Khan, and a Maharashtrian Hindu mother, Vardhini Scharwachter, Aman is the cousin of actor Raza Murad and the niece of actor Murad.

Her father, Amanullah Khan, was a screenwriter for movies such as Mughal-e-Azam (1960) and Pakeezah (1972), often writing under the nom de plume "Aman", which she later adopted as her own screen name.

Aman's parents divorced when she was young.

When she was 13, her father died.

She completed her schooling in Panchgani and attended University of Southern California in Los Angeles on student aid, but could not complete her graduation.

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 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).

In 1970, she participated in the Femina Miss India pageant, where she came in second place and was titled the 'First Princess'.

Following this, she competed in, and won, the Miss Asia Pacific International pageant, becoming the person to hold both pageant titles at the same time.

After winning these pageants Aman began acting, appearing first in the film The Evil Within (1970) alongside Dev Anand, which was commercially unsuccessful.

In the 1970s, Cine Blitz magazine was launched, with Aman on the cover of its first issue.

Aman's breakthrough came with the musical drama Haré Rama Haré Krishna (1971), for which she won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.

In 1971, Aman appeared in a minor role in O. P. Ralhan's Hulchul, and in the same year appeared in the film Hungama, which starred Vinod Khanna, Kishore Kumar, Mehmood and Helen; both films were flops at the box office.

Actor and director Dev Anand soon approached Aman to star as Jasbir/Janice in his 1971 musical drama Haré Rama Haré Krishna, after actress Zaheeda turned down the role.

The film was a critical and commercial success, and proved to be a breakthrough for Aman.

She won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress and the Bengal Film Journalists' Association Award for Best Actress (Hindi) for her performance in the film.

In 1973, she starred in Heera Panna, yet again appearing alongside Anand, and in Nasir Hussain's Yaadon Ki Baaraat as Sunita, the love interest of Vijay Arora.

The latter film was described by film scholar Kaushik Baumik as "the first quintessential Bollywood film", proved to be a major commercial success at the box office.

Aman's performance in the song "Chura Liya Hai Tumne Jo Dil Ko" garnered considerable attention, after which she became known as the "girl in white carrying a guitar".

She also starred in Dhund (1973) alongside Sanjay Khan and Danny Denzongpa; its plot was inspired by the Agatha Christie novel The Unexpected Guest.

The cast's performance was praised, and the film was a moderate commercial success.

In 1974, Aman starred in Manoj Kumar's action drama Roti Kapda Aur Makaan, where she portrayed Sheetal, an opportunist who deserts her jobless lover for a millionaire.

Aman had continued to star alongside Dev Anand throughout the year, appearing together in Prem Shastra and Ishq Ishq Ishq.

She played Nisha, a recovering prostitute, in the Shammi Kapoor-directed film Manoranjan, and starred in Ajanabee as Rashmi, an ambitious girl who runs away to marry her lover but then faces a difficult choice; the latter film had an average box office performance.

In 1975, Aman appeared in two films: she portrayed an assassin Warrant, and played 'Sharmeeli' in Chori Mera Kaam; both films were successful.

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.

Afterwards, she did not resume acting until 2003, when she appeared in the film Boom.

Aside from acting, Aman made her theatre debut in 2004, appearing in the play The Graduate in Mumbai.

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).

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.

In 2020, it was announced she would appear in a play about Kasturba Gandhi.