Zeenat Aman has once again spoken out about her views on live-in relationships, months after she sparked controversy with her Instagram post. She shared a video of her interview with Simi Garewal from 1999. In this interview too, she had the same views.
Expressing herself further, she wrote: “Do you remember that I published my opinion on live-in relationships a few months ago? It caused a huge quarrel among some of my contemporaries and was accompanied by the usual accusations of insulting traditional values.
Well, this is a blast from the past, my younger self expresses exactly the same view.She added, clarifying that she was not seeking to attract attention or anger: “I am frankly not stirring up controversy, but simply explaining the truth that I have realized through my own experiences.”Explaining what she believes truly defines a meaningful partnership, Zeenat explained, “The core of my point is that it is more important for the relationship to be sacred by the two people in it than for it to be ‘sacred’ to society through marriage. The idea that you cannot have a fulfilling relationship without state approval or religious approval is, quite frankly, as ridiculous as believing that marriage can magically fix an unhappy relationship.”
“She also acknowledged the weight of social conditioning while noting the shift among younger generations. “I understand societal expectations. But I also see that more and more young people today are entering relationships as equals, not to build wealth, form alliances, seek protection, please parents, or have children, but to experience the beauty of human connection. The cornerstone of a healthy relationship is not its governmental status; it is the respect and love that two people share, regardless of the cards.”
“Referring to the resurfaced interview, Zeenat credited Simi with encouraging honest dialogue on sensitive topics. “This clip is taken from a crushing interview I did in 1999. I wasn’t expecting to be questioned about such personal matters, but I went with the flow. To be honest, it still makes me uncomfortable to watch. However, enough time has passed for me to realize how important such conversations are. By eliciting raw, unfiltered responses from me, Simi made these topics less taboo for others to discuss.”
“In the video, Zeenat speaks frankly about her difficult marriages and her decision not to marry again. “You can have a relationship without being married,” she says. “I never want to get married again.” When asked whether such arrangements lead to insecurity, she answered confidently: “I don’t think so.”Sharing her thoughts on the unpredictability of life, she says, “With my mother’s death and Mazhar’s death, he was only 42 when he died, what is permanent in life? Nothing. Nothing.”
Why should we assume that any relationship is permanent? Even your children are not yours; They grow up and grow apart.Zeenat had revealed in April 2024 that she had advised her children to think about direct relationships before marriage, and her comments sparked sharp criticism from actors Mukesh Khanna, Mumtaz, and Saira Banu, who described her point of view as “unacceptable.”Zeenat Aman was married to Mazhar Khan who died due to kidney failure. You’ve spoken previously about the emotional stress you endured in marriage. Recalling that period in her conversation with Simi Garewal, she admitted, “In the first year of marriage, I realized I had made a mistake. But since I had made the decision against everyone’s wishes, I felt I had to make it work. I’m not saying it was the best thing for him either. It was a difficult time from the first year because I was pregnant with my first child and Mazhar was not there. At that time, there was a major article in Stardust about the woman he was seeing.”
“This was the reality.”
