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The bold Bollywood diva was romantically linked with five famous personalities, including Sanjay Khan, Raj Kapoor and Imran Khan.
Zeenat Aman and Dev Anand in the film Hare Rama Hare Krishna (1971). (File Photo)
The iconic 70s and 80s actress Zeenat Aman turns 73 today. Her beauty, boldness and grace made her one of the most popular actresses of her time. Her performance with a guitar in hand in the song ‘Chura Liya Hai Tumne Jo Dil Ko’ from the film Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973) is still etched in our hearts.
Besides her work in the Hindi film industry, her tumultuous love life is also one of the most talked-about B-town issues. From her breaking Dev Anand’s heart to her abusive marriage with Sanjay Khan, she was a hot topic right from her 20s. Here’s a look at the five famous personalities from Bollywood and the cricketing world she was linked up with.
Zeenat Aman’s Abusive Marriage With Sanjay Khan
Zeenat Aman and veteran actor-filmmaker Sanjay Khan met on the sets of the movie Abdullah in 1970, where they fell in love.
They started dating when Sanjay was still married to Zarine Khan. Sanjay and Zeenat’s relationship was not hidden though and some years later, then they secretly got married in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan on December 30, 1978.
However, the marriage did not last long as Sanjay physically abused Zeenat and she had to be hospitalised. Sanjay brutally beat her up, amidst other guests in a five-star hotel in Mumbai, which allegedly led to permanent damage to her right eye.
As a model and actress, the physical deformity must have affected her career and mental health. However, the bad experience did not stop the strong woman from trying to find love and tie the knot again.
ALSO READ: Happy Birthday Zeenat Aman: Top Movies And Songs Of The Legendary Actress
Zeenat Aman’s Unhappy Marriage With Mazhar Khan
Zeenat took the big step once again and got married to actor Mazhar Khan in 1985. She was at the peak of her career back then while Mazhar wasn’t an A-lister. She stepped away from the glam and glitz of Bollywood and chose love instead. However, that did not end well too.
She divorced him after 12 years but revealed in an interview that it was long overdue. She wanted to part ways with him after their first year of marriage when she found him cheating on her.
But she still stayed by him for over a decade and then got legally separated from him. She also revealed his self-destructive behaviour to be one of the causes of their broken marriage.
Besides her two failed marriages, her name was entangled with a few other of her co-stars as well, including Dev Anand and Raj Kapoor.
ALSO READ: How Zeenat Aman Was ‘Punished’ By Her In-Laws For Ending Marriage With Mazhar Khan
Dev Anand Was Heartbroken On Seeing Zeenat Aman And Raj Kapoor Together
Dev Anand (then aged 48) met a 20-year-old Zeenat during the shoot of his directorial Hare Ram Hare Krishna and had his eyes on her since then. Anand accepted being “desperately in love” with her by the time, she signed Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1978).
Anand wanted to express his feelings for her with a surprise event, post a party. But instead, he returned heartbroken as he saw Zeenat in the arms of a drunken Raj Kapoor, being all romantic.
Besides Bollywood stars, she was even linked up with a popular personality in another field.
ALSO READ: When Zeenat Aman Revealed Why She Stepped Away From Limelight
Zeenat Aman Allegedly Dated Pakistan’s Imran Khan
Former Pakistani PM and cricketer, Imran Khan made headlines for his interactions with the Indian actress. The two met at a film party for cricketers during the Bombay Test.
They allegedly had an affair in the 1980s but there weren’t any confirmations from either party. As per some reports, Imran Khan celebrated his 27th birthday with Zeenat Aman when the Pakistan cricket team was in India in 1979. Some even say that they would consider marriage if not for their different nationalities.