Veteran actor Zeenat Aman, celebrated for her iconic roles in Hindi cinema and her candid presence on Instagram, has never shied away from sharing personal chapters of her life — both uplifting and painful. Now gearing up for her screen comeback with The Royals, the actor recently revisited one of the most challenging periods of her life — her marriage to actor-producer Mazhar Khan.
Zeenat married Mazhar Khan in 1985 in a quiet ceremony held in Singapore, a decision she made despite her mother’s disapproval. Recalling that moment, Zeenat once said, “It’s true that I broke her heart a little when I eloped, but it mended with the birth of my first son, who shares a birthday with her.”
However, the joy was short-lived. In a heartfelt conversation with Simi Garewal from years ago, Zeenat opened up about her immediate regrets. “The first year of marriage, I realised I had made a mistake,” she admitted. “But because I had gone against everyone’s wishes, I felt responsible and decided to make it work.”
She was pregnant with her first child when the cracks became glaring. At the time, a magazine article revealed Mazhar’s alleged affair, which deeply affected her. “There was a big article in Stardust about the woman Mazhar was seeing. It was a difficult time. It’s reality,” she said.
Despite feeling betrayed, Zeenat chose to stay in the marriage for the sake of her children. “As soon as my son was born, I wanted out. But I thought he deserved a chance at a complete family. I stayed and tried everything to make it work.”
Things took a turn when Mazhar fell seriously ill. Zeenat stepped up as a caregiver. “I learned to give injections, change surgical bags, and found the best doctors — even abroad,” she said. “But the strain of it all nearly broke me. I was very close to a nervous breakdown.”
Ultimately, Mazhar’s addiction to prescription drugs created a wedge she could no longer overcome. “He had stopped helping himself. I couldn’t watch him destroy himself. He was taking seven painkillers a day. I left because I had to — but I still cared. I have no guilt. Most women wouldn’t have lasted as long as I did.”
Mazhar Khan passed away due to kidney failure. Looking back, Zeenat’s story is not just one of heartbreak — but also of resilience, courage, and emotional survival.
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