Zeenat Aman responds to Mumtaz calling her marriage ‘living hell’, criticism on live-in advice: ‘I never tear down my colleagues’

In her Instagram post, Zeenat encouraged her followers not to succumb to societal pressures, particularly regarding live-in relationships. “I’m aware that Indian society is a little uptight about “living in sin” but then again, society is uptight about so many things! Log kya kahenge? (What will people say?),” she wrote.

However, Mumtaz, in a subsequent interview with Zoom, not only disagreed with Zeenat’s viewpoint but also made a pointed remark about Zeenat’s own marital history.

Sharing how she thinks Zeenat loves being a ‘cool aunty,’ Mumtaz said, “Zeenat should be careful with what she is advising. She has all of a sudden come into this huge social media popularity, and I can understand her excitement about sounding like a cool aunty. But giving advice that is counter to our moral values is not the solution to increasing your following. Aap Zeenat ko hi le lo misaal ke taur par (Take Zeenat for example)… She knew Mazhar Khan for years before marrying him. Her marriage was a living hell. She should be the last person doling out advice on relationships.”

Zeenat Aman’s marital journey was marked with lots of ups and downs. Initially, she reportedly tied the knot with actor Sanjay Khan in 1978, but their union was short-lived, ultimately annulled in 1979. Zeenat then married actor Mazhar Khan in 1985. The couple remained together until Mazhar’s untimely demise in 1998.

However, behind the facade of marital bliss, Zeenat’s relationship with Mazhar was marred by inner turmoil and discontent. Speaking about her experiences, she revealed her unhappiness within the marriage during an appearance on Rendezvous with Simi Garewal in 1999.

She said, “Mazhar never wanted me to grow as an individual or as an artist. He always wanted me to be with the kids and be at home. During the very first year of marriage I realised I had made a huge mistake, but I decided to live by it and make it work. I tried to make it work for another 12 years. There was no light at the end of the tunnel for me. There was not a single moment of happiness or joy during those 12 years. But I still tried making it work.”