Bollywood veteran Zeenat Aman says she was ‘abused’ publicly on film set after Amitabh Bachchan’s late arrival

Zeenat Aman. Photo courtesy: Instagram/Zeenat Aman

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Mumbai/IBNS: In a delayed birthday post for Amitabh Bachchan, Bollywood veteran Zeenat Aman has revealed a “humiliating” incident she experienced during shooting after the former was late to arrive at a film set on a rare occasion.

In a long post on Instagram, Zeenat Aman claimed she was “abused” by the director of the film after Bachchan, who is known for his punctuality, was late to arrive at the film set.

However, she didn’t take any name in the post, which she shared a day after Bachchan turned 81.

The post reads, “We had a morning shift that day, and I hitched a ride to set with the film’s producer. As always, I had my script in hand and rehearsed my lines as we drove to the studio. Upon my arrival I went directly to my makeup room, and informed the crew to send me a message once Mr. Bachchan was ready for the shot. Our “roll time” came and went, but there was no sign of Mr. Bachchan. 30 minutes passed. Then 45. An entire hour went by before there was a knock on the door. An AD informed me the Mr. Bachchan had arrived. And that he’d run straight from his car to the set!”

“I immediately leapt up and made my way downstairs. I had just about stepped foot on set when from across the room the director let loose a torrent of abuse! He was absolutely catatonic, and under the impression that it was I who had held up production.

“The cast and crew stood in stunned silence as this director ranted and raved at me. I couldn’t get a word in edgeways, and tears of indignation rushed to my eyes. I glared at the director, did an about turn, marched straight back to my makeup room and told my team to pack up.”

Though she was ready to leave the shoot, Zeenat Aman said the producer of the film and Bachchan came to her door.

The actress said she had accepted Bachchan’s apology “but I was still stinging from the unwarranted dressing down I had received.”

Later when she returned to the shooting floor, Zeenat Aman shares, “the director threw himself at my feet and begged my forgiveness.”

“It was all rather melodramatic, and though I completed the film, I never worked with that director again,” she added.

Zeenat Aman and Amitabh Bachchan have worked together in films ‘Laawaris’, ‘Dostana’, ‘Pukar’, ‘Mahaan’ et al.