Zeenat Aman recalls shooting ‘Samundar Mein Naha Ke’ with Amitabh Bachchan: It was his first shoot post Coolie accident

Zeenat Aman recalls shooting Samundar Mein Naha Ke with Amitabh Bachchan

Veteran actor Zeenat Aman has recently been winning hearts on social media with her nostalgic throwbacks and candid storytelling. One such moment that caught the attention of fans and cinephiles alike was her Instagram post where she reminisced about shooting the song Samundar Mein Naha Ke alongside Amitabh Bachchan for the 1983 film Pukar. The anecdote not only brought a slice of film history to light but also revealed that this shoot marked Amitabh Bachchan’s first after surviving a life-threatening injury on the sets of Coolie in 1982.

Taking to her Instagram, Zeenat Aman shared a clip of the song and her reflections on filming the romantic beach sequence with Mr. Bachchan. “Uff.. I’ll be candid. This is a bit of a gratuitous post brought on by the summer. It’s just so damn hot! The weather I mean,” she began, adding with her trademark wit, “Though I won’t be too coy to say that Mr. Bachchan and I romancing to those salty lyrics are quite sizzling too.”

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The song, which featured a breezy beach setting and flirtatious chemistry, was shot in Goa. Zeenat revealed the simplicity of the shoot and the minimal direction she was given. “Samundar Mein Naha Ke was shot on an empty beach and it was an easy-breezy affair. For me at least! I didn’t have any lip syncing to do, nor much choreography to learn. The brief was as basic as they come – look pretty!” she said.

Reflecting on her costume for the song — which has now become the central talking point — she wrote, “So there I was in a titillating white outfit, with a bit of midriff on display, rolling around in the surf, while Mr. Bachchan pranced around me like an ardent bird-of-paradise.”

The actor, who played the role of a vivacious ‘jal pari’ (mermaid-like figure), also admitted the experience wasn’t entirely smooth sailing. “My otherwise seamless performance was hindered by one small fact – I can’t swim! I had to swallow a fair amount of nerves (and seawater) for those shots of me writhing in the swash! Despite taking a few tumbles in the waves and being left with sand in uncomfortable places, I thought I did a convincing job of being a jal pari.”

Zeenat Aman’s candid and humorous storytelling has not only allowed fans to see the glamorous side of Bollywood’s golden years but also the behind-the-scenes reality that often goes unspoken. Her post resonated deeply with fans and even industry insiders. Actor Soni Razdan commented, “Lovely. Salty sea, salty lyrics and bird-of-paradise are just so apt! Zeenat I love your language. Why on earth have you hidden it under a rock (or sand) for so long?”

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Perhaps the most emotionally resonant detail Zeenat shared in her post was the context surrounding Mr. Bachchan’s participation in the shoot. “P.S: Here’s another titbit for you. This was Mr. Bachchan’s first shoot after the life-threatening accident he suffered on the sets of Coolie in 1982,” she revealed.

The Coolie accident, where Amitabh Bachchan suffered a ruptured spleen while filming an action scene, had brought the country to a standstill. Fans across the nation had prayed for his recovery, and his eventual return to work was seen as nothing short of miraculous. “Bachchan mania was well-established in the country by then, and the nation practically held its breath till he was in the clear. So as you can imagine, the atmosphere on set was particularly buoyant during the making of this film,” Zeenat added.

Reflecting on the shoot of Pukar, Zeenat also shared that director-producer Ramesh Behl made the experience memorable. “Pukar was a blast to shoot. Its anti-colonial underpinning, excellent cast and catchy songs were what drew me to the script. Now Goa in the early 80s was quiet, idyllic and unpeopled.”

Zeenat’s humorous tone, vivid details, and appreciation for the film’s setting and cast have reignited interest in the film and song. Her ability to paint a picture of the 1980s Bollywood scene, complete with unfiltered observations and personal struggles, adds a refreshing layer to the glossy exterior audiences are usually familiar with.

Fans also chimed in with their own memories. One commented, “I remember Mr. Abhishek Bachchan mentioned you as his fav actress in an interview.”

By choosing to revisit and share such iconic moments, Zeenat Aman is not only archiving history but also making it accessible for a generation that may have missed out on the charm of that era.