Zeenat Aman calls 'moral policing' a steady companion through her career, Priyanka Chopra reacts

Zeenat Aman

Veteran actress Zeenat Aman's Instagram posts are one of the most awaited posts on social media. From unheard stories about the film industry from the '70s and 80s to life lessons, Aman uses the platform to share her experiences with the new generation while encouraging a dialogue with them. For her latest post, Aman spoke about moral policing and how despite that she did liberating roles. She recalled her role in the film 'Manoranjan' where she essayed the role of a sex worker. Despite the judgment on her character, Zeenat feels it was among her best performances and termed the 70s era unmatchable when it comes to "fashion, experimentation and freedom".

Sharing pictures of herself from the 1974 film Manoranjan, Zeenat wrote, "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."

She further wrote, "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 FC 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 Shammi ji 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 Asha ji) 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," she added.

Aman said that the 70s was a wonderful time to live. "Despite the moral police (they're always around) the atmosphere of experimentation, freedom and fashion was unmatchable," she claimed.

Reacting on the post, actress Priyanka Chopra wrote, "Moral police is still around and wil continue to be around it seems! But you are beyond".