Zeenat Aman recalls fun banter of working with Rishi Kapoor, shares old video

Veteran actress Zeenat Aman has always brought candour and charm to her reflections on Bollywood’s golden era. In a recent post, she opened up about her brief and only on-screen collaboration with Rishi Kapoor, revealing that their professional and social interactions were surprisingly minimal despite being part of the same film industry circle.

Zeenat Aman on her only on-screen appearance with Rishi Kapoor

“Here’s the truth,” she began candidly, “of all the men I worked with from the Kapoor khandan, Rishi and I interacted the least both socially and professionally.” Despite their careers overlapping for years, the two shared screen space just once—in a single song from the 1977 hit Hum Kisise Kum Naheen.

Aman revealed that her appearance in the film was a special favor for director Nasir Hussain, who considered her something of a “lucky talisman” after the massive success of Yaadon Ki Baaraat. Unable to say no, she agreed to do a guest role that featured a romantic scene and a lively qawwali number—the only one of her career.

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Zeenat Aman (@thezeenataman)

Zeenat and Rishi`s height difference story

Recounting the shoot with Kapoor, whom she affectionately refers to as “Chintu ji,” Aman shared a humorous anecdote that spoke volumes about the beauty standards in cinema at the time. “Those of you who follow this page know that my co-stars often found my height prohibitive,” she wrote. In an era when a taller heroine was seen as undesirable next to a male lead, adjustments had to be made—literally.

As the two actors filmed a flirtatious scene seated on a russet leather couch, it became apparent that their positions made Zeenat appear taller than Rishi. “Much to Chintu ji’s chagrin, Nasir Saab propped him up on first one and then two cushions to make him appear taller than me!” Aman recalled with good-humored nostalgia.

She ended her post with a playful nod to the relatability of on-screen banter, asking her female followers, “After all, which one of you ladies reading this has never accused your paramour of something along those lines?”

In an industry where image was everything, this behind-the-scenes memory is a refreshing reminder of the humor and humility that often accompanied Bollywood’s biggest stars.-

“Jahaan chikni surat dekhte ho, phisal jaate ho!”

This article first appeared on Mid Day