When Zeenat Aman Eloped With Husband Mazhar Khan: 'I Broke My Mom's Heart'

Veteran actress Zeenat Aman opened up about her cherished memories with her late mother Scinda Heinz. The actress, who is all set to make a comeback on the silver screen with Manish Malhotra’s Bun Tikki, reflected on her mother’s profound influence on her life. In an Instagram post, Zeenat shared two old photographs of her mother. One photo showed her mother with her father, Amanullah Khan, while the other included her stepfather, whom she affectionately called Uncle Heinz.

Alongside the pictures, Zeenat penned a heartfelt note for her mother and described her as an extraordinary woman. She recounted how her mother, following her separation from her father in the 50s, became a working woman. She wrote, “After she and my father separated in the 50s, she taught herself business and became a working woman. She sent me to the best of boarding schools and never missed a visit, whence she would come laden with parcels of tuck.”

Zeenat, then recalled how her mother believed no man was good enough for her. She also reminisced about the moment when she broke her mother’s heart by eloping with her husband, Mazhar Khan. She shared, “Mummy never thought any man was worthy of me (she was onto something there), and it was the only matter that we ever locked horns on. Even then, if I were ever low, I would crawl into her bed in our apartment off Nepean Sea Road, lay by her side, and hold her hand. No words would be spoken, but my turmoil would settle and I would feel secure. I indeed broke her heart a little when I eloped, but it mended with the birth of my first son, who shares a birthday with her.”

Zeenat further revealed how her mother began working after separating from Zeenat’s father and highlighted her sacrifices during Zeenat’s acting career. She recounted how her mother decided to support her pursuit of acting by becoming her manager, handling negotiations, managing finances, preparing meals, rehearsing lines, influencing style choices, and boosting confidence significantly.

Zeenat also shared how, following her mother’s passing in 1995, she felt a deep loss, as if a protective veil had been taken away from her. She expressed that the pictures hold greater significance for her now and are precious reminders of her mother’s safe harbor, which she can only revisit in her memories.

Workwise, Zeenat Aman is making a comeback in director Faraz Arif Ansari’s Bun Tikki. The film also features Shabana Azmi in the lead role.