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Zeenat Aman recalls returning to films as ‘cracks started to show' in marriage with Mazhar Khan: ‘Wanted to escape…’

Zeenat Aman reflected on her return to acting in the courtroom drama Gawaahi, filmed shortly after her first son's birth.

Published on: May 21, 2026, 20:33:48 IST
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Bollywood veteran Zeenat Aman often shares nostalgic anecdotes from her life and career on social media. She recently opened up about one of the most difficult phases of her personal life. In a heartfelt post, the actor recalled how she made a comeback to films at a time when her marriage was beginning to fall apart, and how her mother’s unwavering support helped her return to work.

Zeenat Aman calls herself comeback queen

Zeenat Aman recalls making multiple comebacks in films. (Instagram)
Zeenat Aman recalls making multiple comebacks in films. (Instagram)

On Thursday, Zeenat took to Instagram and shared a clip from one of her old interviews, filmed when she was returning to the screen after a long break. Along with the video, she penned a note explaining the story behind it. She wrote, “How many comebacks can a gal have? When it comes to me, apparently, the answer is unlimited!”

She further shared how her mother’s support helped her return to film sets. “Having once wanted to escape my professional life, I now wanted to escape my personal life and remember my identity as something beyond daughter, mother and wife! My amazing Amma stepped in to help out with Azaan, and that allowed me to accept the role of murder accused Janhvi Kaul in Gawaahi. We shot entirely in Mumbai, and the cast included the highly decorated Shekhar Kapur and the talented Ashutosh Gowariker,” she wrote.

Zeenat revealed that she rewatched the film recently and was reminded that it was a bold and unconventional whodunnit. She added that it is worth watching for those who enjoy slow-burning legal dramas with a touch of passion and an unexpected twist. Concluding her note, she wrote, “This interview clip is from the sets of Gawaahi, and for me personally, it is madly nostalgia-provoking. The role marked my return to films after giving birth, and so, of course, it was also hailed as a comeback. One of many I’ve apparently had since! I guess you can call me a comeback queen.”

About Zeenat Aman's marriage to Mazhar Khan

Zeenat Aman married actor Sanjay Khan in 1978, but their marriage was annulled in 1979. She later tied the knot with actor-director Mazhar Khan in 1985, with whom she had two children, Azaan and Zahaan. Earlier, during a conversation with Simi Garewal, Zeenat revealed that stepping out of her marriage with Mazhar was a “question of self-preservation”. She shared that Mazhar had become addicted to prescription drugs and painkillers, at one point taking seven a day, and doctors had warned that there was a strong possibility his kidneys would fail. Zeenat revealed that even after their children asked him to stop, he did not listen. Mazhar passed away in 1998 due to kidney failure.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Riya Sharma

Riya Sharma is a content producer at Hindustan Times who lives and breathes entertainment. If there’s gossip making noise in Bollywood or a reality show moment breaking the internet, chances are she’s already writing about it. She loves digging out the juiciest stories, spotting viral pegs and turning it into easy-to-read content. A journalism graduate from IP University, Riya began her career as a social media executive, where she learned the art of grabbing attention in a scroll-heavy world. But her love for showbiz soon pulled her into entertainment journalism, because for her, it’s always been entertainment, entertainment and more entertainment. An artist at heart, Riya has a deep passion for acting, music and dance, which shapes how she watches and writes about films and reality shows. She loves sharing her views and reviews, especially when something excites, surprises or completely disappoints her. A hardcore reality show fan, Riya enjoys tracking every twist, task and meltdown, and breaking them down for readers who can’t get enough of high-voltage drama. Movies are equally close to her heart, whether it’s a big theatrical release or a binge-worthy OTT series, she’s always watching, and analysing what’s worth the time. She loves talking to celebrities, asking questions that go beyond the usual. When she’s not working, she’s either glued to a new web series, hunting for underrated thrillers on OTT platforms, or rewatching iconic Bollywood moments.

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