Shekhar Kapur says it was fun doing 'Gawaahi' with Zeenat Aman
Mumbai, May 22
Acclaimed filmmaker Shekhar Kapur took a stroll down memory lane as he recalled working with Zeenat Aman in Anant Balani's 1989 film "Gawaahi", which marked the return of the veteran actress on screen.
Just two days ago on May 20, Zeenat spoke about her film Gawaahi and shared that she was going through a rough patch in her married life at the time and just wanted to escape her personal life.
She had stated in the post that she shot for the film two years after the birth of her first son Azaan and just before the conception of her second born, Zahaan.
She then shared anecdotes about the shoot from the film and stated that: "Having once wanted to escape my professional life, I now wanted to escape my personal life and remember my identity as something outside of daughter, mother and wife!"
Zeenat had revealed that her "amazing Amma stepped in to help out with Azaan and that allowed me to accept the role of murder-accused Janhvi Kaul in Gawaahi." The veteran actress revealed that she shot entirely in Mumbai, and the cast included Shekhar Kapur and Ashutosh Gowarikar.
Taking to the comment section, Shekhar reminisced about the time working with the actress and wrote: "I remember Gawahi well.. And I still get a lot of messages on social media about the film.. Was fun doing that film... Zeenat (sic)."
Gawaahi also stars Ranjeeta Kaur and Ashutosh Gowariker. It was based on the 1934 play The Night of January 16th, a courtroom drama by Ayn Rand. The film revolved around the disclosures and cross-examinations of key witnesses of the mysterious death of leading business tycoon Ranjeet Chaudhary.
Shekhar gained the spotlight with his recurring role in the television series Khandaan. He then made his directorial debut with cult classic Masoom in 1983, before gaining widespread acclaim with Mr. India in 1987.
He then gained international recognition and acclaim in 1994 with biographical film Bandit Queen, based on the infamous Indian bandit and politician Phoolan Devi.
— IANS
Reader Comments
I've always admired Zeenat Aman's grace. It's fascinating to hear she used this film as an escape during a tough time in her personal life. Must've been therapeutic for her.
This is such a heartwarming throwback. Love how Shekhar Kapur still gets messages about the film. Zeenat's honesty about her struggles is so relatable. And her mother stepping in to care for Azaan—that's true desi family love. 🥺
I had no idea Gawaahi was based on an Ayn Rand play. That's an unexpected connection. Shekhar Kapur's evolution from TV actor to international director is incredible. Bandit Queen is still one of my all-time favorites.
Zeenat Aman's interview is so raw and real. Many women go through moments where they want to escape. Wish more actresses from her era spoke like this. And Shekhar Kapur's comment is just pure nostalgia. 👏
It's nice to see older actors reminiscing about their work. But reading that Zeenat felt trapped in her personal life must've been tough. Kudos to her for being so candid. And Shekhar's involvement adds a fun layer to this story.
S Siddharth J < We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.