Veteran Bollywood actress Zeenat Aman recently conducted an engaging Ask Me Anything (AMA) session on Reddit and made some interesting revelations. She also offered a glimpse into the highs and lows of her decades long cinematic journey. Aman addressed a wide range of questions about her career, experiences in the film industry as well as her personal life.
One of the most striking revelations came when a fan asked her about a role she regrets turning down. The actress did not hold back, and replied, “I have to say that I regret giving up the role I was offered in Amar Akbar Anthony. My negotiations with the director/producer (for whom I had just delivered a smash hit) fell through. I don’t regret holding my ground but I regret missing out on that role! It seemed such a fun project.”
However, she did not reveal which actress’ role she was offered.
Another user asked her, “Is there a movie/role you regret doing in the past?”
The actress replied, “In all honesty, I regret doing Jaanwar. It took eight years to make, and by the end of it, we were just exhausted. It was absolutely tedious to shoot in bits and bobs over so many years.”
Jaanwar, released in 1982, was directed by S Ali Raza and starred Rajesh Khanna alongside Aman. The film, which revolved around the story of a man seeking redemption and a better life for his son, faced production delays. Despite its star-studded cast, the movie struggled to make an impact at the box office, and its prolonged production cycle added to the challenges faced by the cast and crew.
When asked how the film industry has changed over the years, Aman said, “I know people like to criticise the Hindi film industry and much of it is valid. But I think a major and positive improvement I see is that there are women at every rung of the process pulling their weight and claiming their place with competence. In my time it wasn’t unusual to be the only woman on set! So this is a striking difference to me.”
The actress, who is celebrated for her roles in iconic films like Hare Rama Hare Krishna, Don, and Satyam Shivam Sundaram, continues to captivate audiences not only through her timeless performances but also with her refreshing openness on social media, especially Instagram.
Meanwhile, on the work front, Aman will be next seen in The Royals, which also stars Ishaan Khatter, Bhumi Pednekar, Sakshi Tanwar, Nora Fatehi, Milind Soman, Dino Morea, Chunky Panday, Vihaan Samat, and others in key roles.
