When Moral Police Followed Zeenat Aman

Zeenat
Aman
gives
the
world
another
interesting
slice
of
her
life,
as
she
discusses
her
sexy
and
flirtatious
outfits
in
the
movies,
a
feature
that
almost
defined
her
career.

It
resulted
in
the
moral
police
being
her
close
companion.

Sharing
pictures
from
Shammi
Kapoor’s
directorial
debut

Manoranjan,
where
she
played
a
sex
worker,
Zeenat
writes,
‘If
I’ve
had
a
steady
companion
through
my
career,
it’s
been
the
moral
police.
And,
my
goodness,
did
they
have
a
field
day
with
this
one!

‘Manoranjan
defied
existing
conventions.
It
was
an
adaptation
of
the
fabulous
1963
American
comedy

Irma
Le
Douce,
and
it
featured
me
in
the
starring
role
of
Nisha.
A
sex
worker
with
a
sense
of
dignity,
independence
and
humour.’

‘Filming

Manoranjan
was
a
‘haste-haste,
khelte-khelte‘
affair.
It
was
Shammi
Kapoor’s
directorial
debut,
had
RD
Burman
in
the
role
of
music
director,
and
Sanjeev
Kumar
as
the
leading
man.
The
producer
F
C
Mehra
was
a
family
friend.
We
shot
the
film
entirely
in
studios
in
Mumbai,
and
it
released
in
1974.

‘Nisha
was
no
damsel
in
distress!
Her
outfits
were
flirtatious
and
sexy,
but
more
importantly,
she
was
unapologetic
about
how
she
earns
a
living.
This
was
a
character
that
I
could
have
fun
with:
Sexually
liberated,
financially
independent,
and
fully
capable
of
locking
horns
with,
and
turning
down,
any
man.

‘I’ve
always
maintained
that
I
am
a
‘director’s
actor’,
and
I
do
believe
Shammiji
coaxed
out
one
of
my
better
performances
with
this
film.
The
music
and
costumes
were
also
a
hoot.
In

Aaya
hoon
main
tujh
ko
le
jaoonga
we
dance
upon
gigantic
musical
instruments,

Chori
chori
solah
singar
(sung
by
Ashaji)
has
a
titillating
shower
sequence,
and

Dulhan
maike
chali
is
pictured
entirely
in
a
police
van
full
of
sex
workers
being
taken
to
the
police
station
and
was
sung
by
all
three
Mangeshkar
sisters!
If
you’re
interested,
you
can
watch
these
on
YouTube.’

‘The
70s
were
a
wonderful
time
to
be
alive!
Despite
the
moral
police
(they’re
always
around)
the
atmosphere
of
experimentation,
freedom
and
fashion
was
unmatchable!

‘I
wonder
if
some
of
my
older
followers
remember
this
film?
I’d
love
to
hear
your
memories
of
watching
it
or
any
discussion
it
may
have
provoked.

‘Enjoy
your
Monday
and
have
a
lovely
week,
everybody.

‘The
three
images
here
include
a
movie
still,
a
hand
painted
film
poster,
and
another
still
that
I
have
borrowed
from
nfai.’

Film
folk
were
quick
to
comment:

Priyanka
Chopra:
‘Moral
police
is
still
around
and
wil
continue
to
be
around
it
seems!
But
you
are
beyond.’

Archana
Puran
Singh:
‘Of
course
I
remember
watching
this
absolutely
amazing
film
in
the
small
town
theatres
of
Dehradun!
And
big
what
an
experience
it
was.
Even
though
I
was
very
young
I
was
enthralled
by
the
world
that
was
created
and
my
parents
thought
nothing
of
sending
a
young
girl
to
watch
a
film
on
this
subject
(I
wonder
if
it
had
an
A
certificate
and
that
somehow
I
was
still
allowed!
Those
times
were
different
and
parents
were
not
very
well
informed
I
guess.
But
I’m
happy
I
got
to
watch
a
film
that
has
endured
in
my
memory
till
date!)

‘This
is
one
of
your
films
Z
which
has
had
a
lasting
impression
on
me
(the
other
being

Hare
Rama
Hare
Krishna)
and
I
became
your
hugest
fan…
the
costumes,
your
styling
and
your
entire
presence
was
such
an
inspiration
for
me
at
the
time
and
when
my
brother
came
to
know
that
over
the
years
you
and
I
became
friends
he
was
like
“Wow,
you
got
to
make
your
dream
of
meeting
your
icon
come
true”.
So
yes,

Manoranjan
and
you
played
a
big
part
in
my
own
aspirations
and
realisation
of
becoming
an
actor
myself.’

Anil
Kapoor:
‘Loved
the
film
the
song
picturisations
and
performances
..
screening
of
the
film/picture

ka
pehla
trial
show
was
at
the
iconic
R
K
studios
auditorium
with
friends
and
families
of
the
warm,
gracious
and
generous
Krishna
Aunty/Mrs
Raj
Kapoor.’

Padmini
Kolhapure:
‘OMG
the
songs
were
epic
..
cannot
be
recreated
..
and
youuu
were
Thee
stylish
Zeenie
baby
..heart
throbs
of
God
know
how
many.’

Tanuja
Chandra:
‘You
look
gorgeous,
I’m
going
to
go
back
and
check
these
songs
out.
Don’t
remember
them
and
they
sound
amazing!’