Considered by many to be one of Bollywood’s greatest sex-symbol (if not THE greatest), Zeenat Aman was also a trend-breaker, agreeing to play unconventional characters in the conservative Hindi film industry.

She was born to a Hindu mother and a Muslim father on November 19th, 1951, in Germany. After studying in Bombay and Los Angeles, Zeenat won quite a few beauty pageants (let’s mention Miss India and Miss Asia both in 1971), worked as a journalist for Femina magazine and also as a model. Then came her film debut, with a couple of cameo appearances. People took notice of her in Hare Ram Hare Krishna, where she played a junkie hippie, a most unusual role at the time for a woman in the industry, with actresses mostly being confined in obedient or decorative roles. A Best Supporting Actress title was graced for her at the Filmfare Award and a BFJA Award for Best Actress, as she had completely eclipsed established movie queen Mumtaz. Sultry was the best word to describe Zeenat, so her career took off with that kind of rebellious image, to the delight of audiences, who could finally accept an actress playing more or less “not so pure” characters or that could display a little more flesh on camera.

Zeenat also dressed in a more modern way, revolutionizing the portrayal of Hindi actresses, as she wasn’t afraid to crop her hair in untraditional manner for example. Consider that she once played a character that contemplated abortion and still won the audience’s sympathy, which was close to a miracle in India at the time. Same thing with playing a rape victim or giving the first kiss on the mouth of a leading actor in an Indian big screen, all colossal feats in Bollywood. Being a young actor and starting out alongside Zeenat was also considered good fortune.

After a brief and tumultuous marriage in 1980 with Sanjay Khan, Zeenat wed actor Mazhar Khan in 1985 and they had two sons, Azhar and Azaan, as she took a temporary break from the film world. Mazhar was diagnosed with liver dysfunction and all the couple’s savings went for treatments. He finally lost his battle in 1998, shortly after their divorce, which resulted in Zeenat’s in-laws engaging her in battle for the custody of her sons. Her mom also passed away as these were the most difficult and bitter of times. Still, she regained her fans’ favor when all the unpleasantness was washed away.

A real legend, Zeenat Aman still pops up from time to time on screen, with an American upcoming project entitled Geeta in Paradise. Everyone should bow down because she is an important figure in modern cinema.