When Zeenat Aman told Showstopper maker Manish Harishankar: ‘After a long time, someone directed me in Raj Kapoor and Dev Anand style’

Ever since her Instagram debut, 70s diva Zeenat Aman has been the centre of attraction on social media. Be it her bold statements, inspiring stories from the past or her ever-glamorous demeanour, the iconic actress is hogging all the attention for the right reason. Poised to make her comeback, Zeenat will be seen in writer-director Manish Harishankar’s upcoming web series, Showstopper. 

Expected to be a two-part series, Showstopper will feature an ensemble cast including Shweta Tiwari, Rohit Roy, Tannaz Irani, Bakhtiyar, Zarina Wahab and Shefali Jariwalla, among others. The series will reportedly focus on the “hush-hush concept of bra fitting and how bra-fitters deal with the problem”.

Also read: Zeenat Aman on 'controversial' Satyam Shivam Sundaram: Was always quite amused by the accusations of obscenity, do not find anything obscene about the human body

Speaking about how Zeenat came onboard for the show, the director told ETimes, “I narrated the story to Zeenat over the phone. Those were the days of Covid-19. She had many questions on Day 1. And, she was a tad nervous. Maybe because she was returning after a long time. But once the cameras rolled on her scenes, she quickly got comfortable. She told me that after a long time, she felt that someone was directing her in Raj Kapoor and Dev Anand style, by including the viewpoint of the actor. That was a big compliment! Zeenat is a very bold, progressive woman who does not believe in the dos and don’ts imposed by the society. She believes that life is meant to be lived. And that’s exactly her persona.”

Elaborating on why he thought Zeenat was perfect for the role, Manish had earlier said, “We were looking for an actress who is the same age as Zeenat and someone who also had a career as a model. Considering her career, she was the perfect fit for the role. Zeenat will play a very crucial role in the show.”

Also read: In her Instagram debut, Zeenat Aman talks about female gaze in the arts 

Zeenat - who had won both the ‘Femina Miss India’ and the ‘Miss Asia Pacific International’ titles in 1970 - is often hailed for her breakthrough performance in Dev Anand’s musical hit Haré Rama Haré Krishna (1971). A few years later in 1978, Zeenat was seen in a never-before-seen avatar in Raj Kapoor’s critically acclaimed film Satyam Shivam Sundaram. Among her other popular films include Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973), Roti Kapada Aur Makaan (1974), Ajanabee (1974), Warrant (1975) and The Great Gambler (1979).