July 05, 2026 02:26 pm (IST)
Follow us:
facebook-white sharing button
twitter-white sharing button
instagram-white sharing button
youtube-white sharing button
'Why can't citizens protest against the government? They are being made slaves by slapping cases': Bombay HC slams Mumbai Police, quashes activist's externment | 'First he cheats on me...': Siya Goyal's old pub video goes viral amid probe into fiancé Ketan Agarwal's alleged murder | Ronaldo's goal, Ramos' last-gasp winner send Portugal past Croatia, set up Spain clash | India-US trade deal almost done! Piyush Goyal hints at breakthrough | Ram Mandir donation scam: Champat Rai points finger at his own driver | PM Modi welcomes Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi as India-Japan ties enter a new era | 'Not an isolated incident': India slams Pakistan after 125-year-old historic Gurdwara is demolished | Ram Mandir donation theft: Six accused were employed by Varanasi-based security firm, probe reveals | Ayodhya Ram Temple donation theft: Probe says majority of money was allegedly stolen during Kumbh Mela | Commercial LPG price slashed by Rs 183.50 from July 1; check new rates in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai
Zeenat Aman
Photo Courtesy: Zeenat Aman Instagram page

Zeenat Aman recollects facing moral policing for playing sex worker in the 1974-released Manoranjan

| @indiablooms | Jun 10, 2024, at 10:54 pm

Yesteryear actor Zeenat Aman walked down memory lane in her latest Instagram post where she referred to playing the character of a sex worker in Manoranjan.

Zeenat Aman recollected how the 'moral police' had a field day with the movie that also featured actors Sanjeev Kumar and Shammi Kapoor.

In her long Instagram post, the actress wrote: "If I’ve had a steady companion through my career, it’s been the moral police. And, my goodness, did they have a field day with this one!"

She said the movie, released in 1974,  defied 'existing conventions'.

"It was an adaptation of the fabulous 1963 American comedy ‘Irma Le Douce’, and it featured me in the starring role of Nisha. A sex worker with a sense of dignity, independence and humour," she wrote in her post along with several pictures of the romantic comedy which was directed by Shammi Kapoor.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Zeenat Aman (@thezeenataman)

Sharing with her audience some facts about the movie, the actress said: "Filming Manoranjan was a ‘haste-haste, khelte-khelte’ affair. It was Shammi Kapoor’s directorial debut, had RD Burman in the role of music director, and Sanjeev Kumar as the leading man. The producer FC Mehra was a family friend. We shot the film entirely in studios in Mumbai, and it released in 1974."

Highlighting her character Nisha and the various aspects of her, Zeenat wrote: "Nisha was no damsel in distress! Her outfits were flirtatious and sexy, but more importantly, she was unapologetic about how she earns a living. This was a character that I could have fun with: sexually liberated, financially independent, and fully capable of locking horns with, and turning down, any man."

She described 70s as a wonderful time to be alive.

"Despite the moral police (they’re always around) the atmosphere of experimentation, freedom and fashion was unmatchable! I wonder if some of my older followers remember this film? I’d love to hear your memories of watching it or any discussion it may have provoked," she said.

Support Our Journalism

We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism

IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.

Support objective journalism for a small contribution.