Somy Ali recalls being pitted against Henna actress Zeba Bakhtiar in the 90s
Mumbai, April 9
Actress Somy Ali took a trip down memory Lane and recalled the days when the magazines try to pit her and Henna actress Zeba Bakhtiar against each other.
Talking about the 90s era of Bollywood, Somy highlighted how it was an era when social media didn't exist and information about actors was very exclusive to fans, further mentioning how tablets took advantage of it.
"So for all you Youngins out there who grew up with social media and are able to literally catch celebrities saying things and sharing their lives with you. Us 90's teens didn't have that luxury and the tabloids worldwide took unbelievable advantage of this fact."
She added, "This #tbt we go back to a memory of my first time meeting in 1993 with the stunningly gorgeous 'Henna' heroine, Zeba Bakhtiar. Given we were both Pakistani born, while I was raised in the U.S., the magazines decided to do what they did best: Pit us against one an other, but it didn't work to their dismay."
She added, " And to date I have the utmost respect and consider our very first encounter with the utmost fondness. Zeba was and is one of most beautiful people I have ever met and I only have fond memories of her. Here's wishing her all the goodness in the world.
#somyali #mumbai_diaries #zebabakhtiar #beautifulpeople."
Somy, along with the caption also put up a throwback picture featuring herself and Zeba in their younger days from the 90s era.
Talking about Zeba Bakhtiar, the actress played the lead role in the super hit movie, Henna that released in 1991
The film was directed by Randhir Kapoor and was originally envisioned by Raj Kapoor.
The film starred Zeba Bakhtiar in the titular role, alongside Rishi Kapoor and Ashwini Bhave.
Talking about the plot of the movie it revolves around across border love story and dwells highly on emotions and drama.
The movie's music, composed by Ravindra Jain, went on to become hugely popular. Songs like 'Main Hoon Khushrang Henna' annf 'Der Na Ho Jaye Kahin' became chartbusters.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Honestly, the tabloids haven't changed much. They still try to pit actresses against each other for clicks and sales. Just the platform has shifted from magazines to online portals. Respect to Somy for calling it out.
Henna's music is timeless! Ravindra Jain sir created magic. "Main Hoon Khushrang Henna" still plays during weddings in our family. The film itself was a beautiful message of love beyond borders. Good to see the actresses remember it fondly.
As someone who grew up in the 90s, this is so true. Our only source of Bollywood news was Stardust and Filmfare. They definitely sensationalized everything. It's nice to get this behind-the-scenes perspective years later.
While I appreciate the sentiment, I feel the article focuses too much on the personal anecdote and not enough on the cultural impact of a film like *Henna*. It was a significant movie for its time, tackling a sensitive subject with grace. The piece could have explored that more.
Zeba Bakhtiar was ethereal in Henna. That was her debut, right? She left a lasting impression even though she did very few films. Somy Ali is right – some people just have a beautiful soul that shines through. Media rivalry stories are so petty in comparison.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.