#ZeenatAman, #Manoranjan, #SexWorker
IBNS-CMEDIA: Yesteryear actor Zeenat Aman walked down memory lane in her latest Instagram post where she referred to playing the character of a sex worker in Manoranjan.
Zeenat Aman recollected how the ‘moral police’ had a field day with the movie that also featured actors Sanjeev Kumar and Shammi Kapoor.
In her long Instagram post, the actress wrote: “If I’ve had a steady companion through my career, it’s been the moral police. And, my goodness, did they have a field day with this one!”
She said the movie, released in 1974, defied ‘existing conventions’.
“It was an adaptation of the fabulous 1963 American comedy ‘Irma Le Douce’, and it featured me in the starring role of Nisha. A sex worker with a sense of dignity, independence and humour,” she wrote in her post along with several pictures of the romantic comedy which was directed by Shammi Kapoor.
Sharing with her audience some facts about the movie, the actress said: “Filming Manoranjan was a ‘haste-haste, khelte-khelte’ affair. It was Shammi Kapoor’s directorial debut, had RD Burman in the role of music director, and Sanjeev Kumar as the leading man. The producer FC Mehra was a family friend. We shot the film entirely in studios in Mumbai, and it released in 1974.”
Highlighting her character Nisha and the various aspects of her, Zeenat wrote: “Nisha was no damsel in distress! Her outfits were flirtatious and sexy, but more importantly, she was unapologetic about how she earns a living. This was a character that I could have fun with: sexually liberated, financially independent, and fully capable of locking horns with, and turning down, any man.”
She described 70s as a wonderful time to be alive.
“Despite the moral police (they’re always around) the atmosphere of experimentation, freedom and fashion was unmatchable! I wonder if some of my older followers remember this film? I’d love to hear your memories of watching it or any discussion it may have provoked,” she said.
