Bold, elegant, and ahead of her time, she was one of the most versatile actresses in the 1970s who took on unconventional roles and showcased her impeccable Western-inspired fashion.
Even today, it is safe to say that with her grace, glamour, and experience in the industry, the ever-charming star is one of the most influential icons of Hindi cinema.
You guessed that right, we are talking about Zeenat Aman. The veteran actor is currently winning fans with her daily dose of interesting memories from the past.
Well now, she has shared a clip from her 1980 blockbuster Dostana, directed by Raj Khosla that sparked conversations around gender, morality, and representation in Hindi cinema.
In the clip, Zeenat’s character Sheetal walks on a beach in swimwear when a man harasses her. Refusing to be intimidated, she grabs him by the collar and drags him straight to the police station.
Though Inspector Vijay (played by Amitabh Bachchan) arrests the accused, he also scolds Sheetal for her “revealing” clothes, implying she invited the incident. His words spotlight the patriarchal mindset of the era.
Talking about the scene, Zeenat reflects on how rigid moral codes once felt, and how society believed these rules were unshakeable until time proved otherwise.
She notes how today’s viewers, especially young women, react with anger and disbelief toward the moral policing that passed unquestioned decades ago.
“When you are young, one thinks the moralities of the time are set in granite. Then the years turn, and one day you look up from your screen and think ‘wow, everything changed.’ Okay, perhaps not everything. The moral police are no doubt as vigilant as ever today, but the narrative has certainly progressed,” Zeenat wrote.
Zeenat then predicts how present-day women might interpret the scene. “If you’re a woman who watched this clip, you were infuriated by the eve-teasing and resonated with Sheetal’s discomfort and anger.”
“You loved that she dragged her harasser to the police station, a triumph you probably never felt… And then you were incensed by our hero, Inspector Vijay’s, condescending opinion and tone! Am I right?” she guessed.
But then she reminds followers of the shift in generational thinking and how younger audiences respond. Back then, many believed the hero’s reprimand was justified.
“I am glad you’re annoyed. But back in the day, average woman would think Vijay to be a mighty upstanding gentleman because Sheetal deserved a reprimand just as much as her harasser,’” she revealed.
Zeenat admitted to how her own perspective has evolved with age. “I absolutely support the right of women (all people actually) to wear what they please, while also understanding that the world doesn’t operate on my ideals,” she concluded.
Featuring power-packed performances by Zeenat Aman, Amitabh Bachchan, and Shatrughan Sinha, Dostana became one of the highest-grossing films of 1980.
