When Zeenat Aman failed to audition for Raaj Kumar starrer Heer Raanjha

Bollywood actress Zeenat Aman has also been through some ups and downs. She started her career in the modeling industry and gained recognition by winning the Miss India and Miss Asia Pacific International beauty pageants in 1970. Early in her career, Zeenat Aman met actor Raaj Kumar at a film premiere. She greeted him and the actor suggested that she look at her beauty and try her luck in acting.

Only a few people know that the actress auditioned for a supporting role in the 1970 Hindi romantic musical film Heer Ranjha, directed by Chetan Anand. But she did not get the role due to her poor Urdu skills. The film is adapted from the 1766 epic poem “Heer” by Punjabi poet Waris Shah. Chetan Anand’s ‘Heer Raanjha’ was a huge success, starring Raaj Kumar in the lead role.

Priya Rajvansh stars opposite Raaj Kumar in the film. Their pairing was well received by the audience. But what is less known is that Zeenat Aman was originally slated to star in the film but was later cut from the cast. Raaj Kumar reportedly wants to work with her but he has not commented on Chetan’s decision. This incident goes back to the time when Zeenat Aman was trying to establish himself in the film industry.

Heer Raanjha has a stellar cast that includes Raaj Kumar, Priya Rajvansh, Pran, Prithviraj Kapoor, Ajit, Jayant, Sonia Sahni, Kamini Kaushal, Indrani Mukherjee and Achla Sachdev. The film has music composed by Madan Mohan and marks the directorial debut of Chetan Anand.

Zeenat Aman started her acting career in 1970, starring in films like “The Evil Within” and “Hulchul”. But her breakthrough role came in the 1971 musical Haré Rama Haré Krishna. She now reportedly has several more films in the pipeline, including “Bun Tikki” and “Black Money: The Truth About Fake Currency Revealed.”

Meanwhile, Raaj Kumar started his acting career with the 1952 film Rangili. He has acted in many movies like “Aabshar”, “Ghamand” and “Lakhon Mein Ek”. But it was his performance as Prince Naushazad in Sohrab Modi’s Nausherwan-E-Adil in 1957 that brought him fame.