There is no doubt that Zeenat Aman is one of the gems to have come out of the Hindi Film Industry. She ruled the industry back in the 70s and established herself as a sought-after lead actor of her time. There is a certain class and respect attached to the female actors of that time who were not just talented but also dignified, intelligent and wise. And Zeenat Aman’s recent Instagram posts bear testament to that.
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That’s right. Zeenat Aman finally made her Instagram debut a few days back and her posts are unlike that of any film industry celebrity today. You won’t find her clicking selfies or posing with her luxury bags. Instead, you’ll find portraits by female photographers, dogs and rare collectables that capture her past. Her captions are a mirror to the kind of person she is.
Take a look at this picture which was taken by a photographer named Tanya Agarwal.
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Zeenat writes, “In the 70s the film and fashion industry was absolutely male dominated, and I would often be the only woman on a set. Over the course of my career I have been photographed and filmed by many talented men. A woman’s gaze though, is different. This series of pictures was shot by young photographer @tanyyaa.a_ in the comfort of my home. No lights, no makeup artist, no hairdresser, no stylist, no assistants. Just a lovely sunny afternoon together. It’s such a pleasure to see so many young women working on both sides of the lens today. I look forward to discovering more such talent on Instagram.”
Zeenat lost most of her family photographs in the 2005 Mumbai floods. This black-and-white picture is one of the very few she was able to salvage. It features her mother, Vardhini Scharwachter.
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About her, she writes, “If I have lived an extraordinary life it’s because I was brought up by an extraordinary woman. My mother Vardhini Scharwachter was what you’d call a ‘pataka’. Elegant, intelligent, feisty and my pillar of support. She was a practising Hindu and she epitomised the ideas of tolerance, love and empowerment. Her faith did not stop her from marrying my father Amanullah Khan. Later, after they had separated, she fell in love with and married a wonderful German man, whom I called Uncle Heinz. She taught me to stand on my own two feet and to live life on my own terms. She was truly the wind beneath my wings. I lost most of my family photographs in the Mumbai floods of 2005, and so the few that I can find are all the more precious to me.”
Here’s our favourite one till now. Zeenat with her rescued Indie, Lily. She is a proud animal lover and Indie dogs hold a special place in her heart as they are “brilliantly resilient, good looking and smart.”
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“Humans can learn a thing or two about love from dogs. My sweet Lily was rescued from the streets of Lower Parel by the kindhearted staff @sanctuaryasia. She was a tiny, sickly puppy who could fit in the palm of my hand. My sons insisted on fostering her until she could find a forever home, but when the time came we couldn’t bear to part with her. So she stayed. I know there are people in the world who prefer to buy pedigrees, but I am not one of them. Our Indie dogs are brilliantly resilient, good looking and smart. It makes so much more sense to me to adopt a dog from a shelter or the streets than to buy one. My Lily’s nose is practically stitched to the hem of my pants. She is my shadow. I hope all of you can one day know and reciprocate the unconditional love of a dog,” she writes.
At a time when Instagram is filled with celebrities posting PR-approved pictures from their photoshoots and Maldives vacation, Zeenat Aman comes as a breath of fresh air.
Welcome to Instagram, Ma’am! 🙂