When Sanjay Khan brutally beat up Zeenat Aman, leaving her in a terrible state

First meeting, affair and the rumoured marriage

Zeenat Aman and Sanjay Khan had earlier worked together in 'Dhund' (1973). But, the feelings of love bloomed on the sets of 'Abdullah' (1980) which was directed by Sanjay Khan himself. The shoot was happening in Jaisalmer. Zeenat was already an established star by that time. And Sanjay was already married to Zarine Khan and had three children. Reportedly, both of them had secretly married in Jaisalmer with two witnesses, on December 30, 1978. Zeenat had also later admitted in an interview saying, "Yes, I was married to Abbas (Sanjay's real name). I believed in the sanctity of my marriage. And all the time I was married to him, I have served him as a dutiful wife." They were divorced on November 24, 1979.

Sanjay Khan accused Zeenat Aman of having multiple affairs

Zeenat Aman was shooting with director BR Chopra at a hotel in Lonavla. She received a trunk call from Sanjay Khan who was in Bombay that time. The actor-filmmaker demanded that she come on the line. Sanjay wanted some dates of Zeenat to re-shoot a small portion of a song in 'Abdullah'. He wanted four days, but actress Zeenat Aman pleaded that she had given dates long ago to BR Chopra and Tony-Tito for their respective film shoots. Apparently, after hearing this, he accused the actress of having an affair with BR Chopra and Deepak Parashar (her 'Insaf Ka Tarazu' co-star). After the phone call which lasted about half an hour, Zeenat took Chopra’s permission to leave for Bombay. Since everybody had heard her turbulent conversation with Sanjay, the actress did not have to explain about the urgency at that point of time.

Zeenat Aman reached Hotel Taj to meet Sanjay Khan

As she reached Bombay, Zeenat immediately made her way to Sanjay’s house late in the evening to work out the re-shooting dates. He was not at home. The actress got to know that he is at Hotel Taj attending a private party. She reached there, it was night. Zeenat had requested the host to allow her to speak to Sanjay for a few minutes without entering the party. But, the host insisted that she should join the party and opened the door marking Zeenat's entry. Reportedly, as she entered the atmosphere suddenly turned cold and tense and the guests looked stunned. All conversation stopped, and Sanjay with a glass in his hand demanded to know why Zeenat had come there.

Sanjay Khan abused and bashed Zeenat Aman brutally

According to a magazine story published in 1980, Zeenat had requested Sanjay if she could speak to him privately as she wished to settle her shooting dates and report back to Lonavla. Sanjay, followed by Zeenat, walked into the adjoining room and it was there that all hell broke loose. He did not give Zeenat a second to speak. He abused and accused her with several allegations of having multiple affairs and relationships. And what apparently followed was one of the most brutal bash-ups. Reports suggest that Sanjay hit her and she fell. He lifted her and hit her again and again. One could only hear her wails. A steward helped Zeenat out of the door. Her face was swollen and her nose was streaming with blood. Strangely, not a single guest present at the party, intervened or tried to help her. She was escorted to her car through the lobby with blood and tears streaming down her face. Zeenat, who was obviously in an extreme state of shock, was in bed for about a week after this gory incident, with a doctor and a day and night nurse in attendance. Even, Zeenat's family physician Dr A Massa was quoted saying to Cineblitz, "Zeenat was in a terrible state. Her face was covered with blood, bruises and black eyes. There were blood clots in her eyes and her lips were severely cut. But more than the physical harm is the shock that she has suffered." [sic]

Zeenat Aman’s blind love, later both parted ways

Zeenat never filed a case against Sanjay Khan because she was still in love and continued to defend him even after that dreadful incident. She tried to protect him saying that he did not bash her up. Zeenat was at the peak of her career at this stage. Apparently, her friends, colleagues, producer, directors had warned her from this relationship saying that Sanjay wanted her only till his film 'Abdullah' was completed. Undoubtedly, Zeenat was madly in love with Sanjay and she had also said in one of her interviews, "I love this man. Don't you understand? I will back his every move and I will make him a king one day." [sic] They broke up after the shooting of 'Abdullah' was completed. There were also these rumours those days that even as 'Abdullah' was completed, Sanjay’s demand for those extra dates for re-shooting was just an excuse. This was followed by that horrible incident at Taj that some believe was done as Sanjay wanted to end his relationship with Zeenat.