Mumtaz didn’t mince words in a brutal critique of Zeenat Aman’s career and acting chops in a recent interview.
Mumtaz and Zeenat Aman stand tall among Hindi cinema’s most popular actresses, each leaving a distinct mark on Bollywood’s golden era. Mumtaz charmed audiences with her lively screen presence and versatility, while Zeenat redefined glamour and modernity in the 1970s with her bold, unconventional roles. Yet, despite their celebrated legacies, Mumtaz has now sparked controversy with a blunt remark about the Don actress.
In a recent conversation with journalist Vicky Lalwani, Mumtaz said she is willing to apologise to Zeenat personally, but she firmly stands by her opinion that the latter was “not a very good actress.”
“Zeenat Aman, okay. Zeenat Aman was not a very good actress, sorry to say—I would say sorry to her as well. How many awards did she get? If you call everyone a star, how will that work? Not everyone is a star,” she remarked.
The Aap Ki Kasam actress explained that the word star should not be used for everyone. According to her, only a few heroines like Meena Kumari, Madhubala, Nargis, and Rekha truly deserved that title. She also compared stardom to legends like Dilip Kumar, saying it takes years of struggle to reach that level.
This comes after Mumtaz earlier criticised Zeenat Aman’s views on live-in relationships in 2024. Her latest comments are likely to spark fresh debate about what makes someone a ‘star’ in Bollywood and how different generations see stardom.
Mumtaz and Zeenat Aman worked together in the 1971 hit film Hare Rama Hare Krishna, directed by Dev Anand. The film’s success marked a turning point in Zeenat’s career, while Mumtaz was already a leading star of the era.
