Dev Anand and Zeenat Aman: A one-sided love story that never materialised

Dev Anand realised that he loved Zeenat Aman

Actress Zeenat Aman, in a way had come into limelight (in Bollywood) through her incredible performance in ‘Hare Rama Hare Krishna’ (1971), which was directed by Dev Anand, and he even starred in the same, alongside the actress. Post the success of this film, both Dev and Zeenat went on to work together in a string of films like ‘Heera Panna’, ‘Warrant’, etc. Soon, Dev started developing feelings for Zeenat and describing that time, the actor-filmmaker has written in his autobiography, that he enjoyed it when newspapers and magazines started linking them together romantically after the film’s (‘Hare Rama Hare Krishna’) success. He had written, “Whenever and wherever she was talked about glowingly, I loved it; and whenever and wherever I was discussed in the same vein, she was jubilant. In the subconscious, we had become emotionally attached to each other.”

Dev Anand’s plan to express his love to Zeenat Aman

After realising his love for Zeenat, the actor-filmmaker wanted to express his feelings in the most romantic way. He decided for a dinner outing at the Taj in Mumbai. He has written about it in his autobiography saying, “Suddenly, one day I felt I was desperately in love with Zeenat? And wanted to say so to her! To make an honest confession, at a very special, exclusive place meant for romance. I chose the Rendezvous at the Taj, on top of the city, where we had dined together once earlier.” Further, he wrote that he called up Zeenat and arranged to go to the venue after they had to make a brief presence at a party together.

Why Dev Anand felt jealous of Raj Kapoor?

As mentioned earlier, Dev and Zeenat had gone to a party before they could head to Taj. At the party, both of them met veteran actor-filmmaker Raj Kapoor who according to Dev Anand was slightly drunk. As Raj Kapoor saw Zeenat arriving at the party, he threw his arms around her exuberantly. Writing about it, Dev Anand has said, “This suddenly struck me as a little too familiar. And the way she reciprocated his embrace seemed much more than just polite and courteous.” Then Dev recalled a rumour that had been heard that time. Reportedly, it was said that Zeenat had gone to Raj Kapoor’s studio for a screen test for the main role in his new film ‘Satyam Shivam Sundaram’. “The hearsay now started ringing true. My heart was bleeding,” Dev Anand wrote further. There was another incident when Dev Anand had admitted that he felt jealous of Raj Kapoor when he had kissed Zeenat in full view of the invited audience at the premiere of his film ‘Ishq Ishq Ishq’.

Dev Anand’s heart broke into pieces

Talking about the party, when Raj Kapoor met Zeenat Aman, Dev Anand recalls that in that drunken state, Raj told Zeenat, “You are breaking your promise that you will always be seen by me only in a white sari.” Hearing this, Dev Anand’s heart broke into pieces. Sad and depressed, he wrote, “More embarrassment was written large on her face, and Zeenat was not the same Zeenat for me any more. My heart broke into pieces…The rendezvous had already lost all meaning in my mind. I sneaked out of the place.”

Dev Anand couldn’t convey his love to Zeenat Aman

Dev Anand left the party alone. He added writing, “The evening delivered a blow to my personality, and my dominating spirit. I had decided on the spur of the moment to tell Zeenat for the first time how much I loved her. And that there was an idea in my mind of another story that would put her on a pedestal as never before, the highest so far. But that was never to be.” [sic]