The case of Zeenat Aman
Zeenat Aman (left) is an Indian film actress, now 57 years old, who seduced an entire generation of Indians, with a career spanning well over a decade.She was also Miss Asia-Pacific in the year 1970, is blessed with a very high IQ, and studied fashion and journalism at Los Angeles. I have seen many of her interviews and movies, and she has a fantastic personality. She is a woman to be admired, and was greatly admired by hundreds of millions of Indians for over a decade. More or less a cult following.
Her rough treatment by the world is human nature manifesting, which looks for excuses to haul others down.
She overdid her seductive roles by Indian standards, and they can't handle it.
She does not act in movies anymore, has not done so in a long time, apart from two tiny appearances in the last 15 years.
The amazing thing is that the Indian masses still enjoy her old movies, but criticize her anyway for being a sexually expressive woman.
Zeenat Aman's personal life has been tragic too. Lost her father when she was 13, gave up everything for a TV actor she fell in love with, when she was in her early 30s (at the peak of her career). The marriage was unsuccessful.
The many TV interviews I have seen of her, she comes across as a remarkably decent, intelligent, strong, dignified woman who has led a very difficult life and carries her pain very gracefully. A graceful lady who seems to be as beautiful on the inside, as she is on the outside.
Further Reading: I've Forgiven Men Who Ill Treated Me
12 comments:
vikram,, this was beautiful.. what a fine tribute to a beautiful woman... indian people sound very much like americans,, jealous, and full of spite for those who have or are things they could never have or be...
excellently written, well thought out.. a pleasure to read....
Hi Jodi,
Thank you for the compliment.
And yes, I agree with you.
Indians, americans, chinese, japanese, pygmies, tribals etc, all people everywhere are the same. Their intelligence level is the same, their desires, fears, attitudes--all similar, or same.
Culturally they may differ---but if there is one pan-world quality, it is violence.
The Indian attitude towards Zeenat Aman is a product of the violence that Indians have inside of them.
Vikram
It seems like this happens often in India. It reminded me of Parveen Babi seeking refuge with Mahesh Bhatt and U.G. Krishnamurti after she fell out of popularity. Became schizophrenic for a time I heard and died in 2005. Does anyone remember now?
I can relate to this post because I was raised as a Hindu, in an environment of Yogis. The message was clear: Deny All Sense Pleasures. And yet here are all these gurus out there breaking the rules.
I've lived in many countries, and it's basically the same. Here look! Sex is all around you. It looks nice doesn't it? Go ahead watch it, but don't do it. Everyone likes watching, talking, and fantasizing, but then they need a scapegoat to unload their guilt on after the fact. It's pitiful.
I wrote about this on my blog actually. Create some internal conflict and then offer a solution. It's all about the almighty dollar and has very little to do with people, which are considered disposable.
Allen,
Your last comment "its all about the almighty currency, has very little to do with people, people are considered disposable" reminds me of a nice poem that is usually attributed to the Dalai Lama:
The Paradox Of Our Age
We have bigger houses but smaller families;
more conveniences, but less time.
We have more degrees but less sense;
more knowledge but less judgment;
more experts, but more problems;
more medicines but less healthiness.
We’ve been all the way to the moon and back,
but have trouble in crossing the street to meet our new neighbour.
We built more computers to hold more copies than ever,
But have less real communication;
We have become long on quantity,
but short on quality.
These are times of fast foods but slow digestion;
Tall mean but short characters;
Steep profits but shallow relationships.
It’s a time when there is much in the window
But nothing in the room"
Hi Vikram...
I love the "Paradox of our times."
So very powerful and your post speaks to the unhealthiness of our time!
So much judgment, frustration, and cruelty.
Thanks for your caring ways Vikram,
Jennifer
Hi Jennifer,
Thanks for your compliment. Yes, there is too much cruelty in this world.
Like I said to Allen...if you do a net-search on Melanie Griffith, you'll come across very very nasty comments that are aimed at the fact that she is old now and is suffering from some skin problem!
This is just one tiny example that proves people are very brutal, and that also for no reason.
regards,
Vikram
An excellent read-reality unmasked!
Well written, though I agree with the hypocrisy part, i dont think that Zeenat Aman is ignored or denied by people. I have never come across any person who thinks bad of her just because she was a sex symbol. she also got to work in conventional films despite her image nd dese films were also hit.
wat happened in her personal life was her destiny, nothing to do with her image.
may be my info nd understandin on dis is less but thats what i feel..
Hello Vikram,
Yes i do agree that to some extent people cannot digest the fact that Zeenat aman was so much popular and yes she had the guts to carry herself so well.I bet anybody could do that at that period of time except actresses like Parveen Babi And Zeenat Aman.They were glamorous actresses and with immense talent.They have created a name for themselves and i personally loved her a lot and still like her.Recently when i saw her in a mall shopping I just was so surprised to see her she was just like a perfect homemaker doing some shopping for her house with the perfect smile on her face dressed perfectly and yet no attitude at all.
Hi. Nice blog. Very profound. Guess we all have been aware of the status quo on Zeenat Aman, but till date i havent found a more refreshing analysis of the same..
I agree with you. And can additionally attribute to our Indians' dual personalities. We would like to do something else, and do something else. The duality can be seen everywhere.. in our culture aping the west - resulting in a half-baked 'fusion'.. and so on..
In Zeenat Aman's case, i also think that the 'disowning' was aggravated because of her supposedly open personal life. Zeenat Aman was the first of her times to openly declares her loves and affairs.. to fall in and out of relationships at the drop of a hat, and still be able to proudly announce it from rooftops. Didnt go down well with the masses. Sad, but true..
It's like how people actually enjoy a Rakhi Sawant's antics in private, but later would rather ridicule her in a public forum.. Or, like men going to prostitutes in night and shunning them in day time.. The Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde are always at play!
Hi Shilpii,
Thank you for your compliments.
I agree with what you have written completely.
The 'dual' attitude of the masses is not justified, yes.
They should have just rejected her if they did not like how she conducted herself in her personal life.
But they enjoyed it all, and rejected and ridiculed her both.
I would go to the extent of saying....even if she is announcing her personal life to one and all...they have no business to ridicule her or call her names. They are no-body to judge how she lives her life.
Like the saying goes...'Let he who is free of sin, cast the first stone...'.
The masses lead a colourful life, its no secret. We read about it in the papers all the time.
So once again...'Who are they to judge?'
It all comes down to hypocrisy.
Dr Jekyl/Mr Hyde are always at play, like you say.
regards,
Vikram
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