Veteran Bollywood actress Zeenat Aman has taken a strong stand against the long-standing culture of eve-teasing and sl*t shaming in Hindi cinema, underscoring the need for consent and respect in the portrayal of romantic relationships on screen. In an Instagram post reflecting on her earlier films, the 74-year-old star drew attention to how differently women were depicted in movies even within short spans of time, and how certain narrative tropes have influenced audience perceptions.
Zeenat Aman began her reflection by revisiting scenes from her classic films Dostana and Teesri Ankh. She wrote, “Rewatching scenes from my old movies is a delightfully unpredictable process. I just never know which memory will snag, unfurl and invite contemplation. A few weeks ago you watched me be eve-teased and slut shamed by Amitji’s character in a clip from Dostana, this week you can watch me be the aggressor to Dharmji’s character in Teesri Ankh!”
“Did things really change quite that radically for Hindi cinema heroines in the two short years that passed between the two films? It’s doubtful, but I do think this scene offers a nice gender flip on the usual trope. Here Dharmji’s Ashok is naive and imposed upon, while my Barkha is roguish and completely inappropriate! She aggressively pursues him, while he plays the reluctant and irritated object of her desire,” she added further.
“I suppose the reason this scene is delightful and that one was infuriating is because of the traditional role reversal. The truth is I can’t endorse Barkha’s approach, just as I couldn’t endorse Inspector Vijay’s! Banter and mischief are excellent tools of courtship, but I think our industry sometimes took these to the extreme. Too many of our films glorify obsession and limerence, instead of giving us a portrayal of real, healthy love. Now I recognise that I have played a part in propagating the ludicrous idea of romance that Bollywood has exported to Indians everywhere. So this is my two-bit effort to address it. Let me be clear, when it comes to relationships, consent is non-negotiable and respect has to flow both ways. Believe me, I learnt this the hard way.”
Also read: Zeenat Aman issues playful apology to fans after turning her Instagram into an ad grid
“Your comments on this scene are keenly awaited. I am quite kicked to have found it, especially as it features my dear co-star Dharmji, of whom I only have lovely memories,” she concluded.
She was last seen in the Netflix series The Royals.
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