Veteran actor Deepak Parashar has given a rare insight into his bond with Zeenat Aman, detailing the emotional support he provided her during the difficult end of her relationship with actor Sanjay Khan. In a recent interview, the ‘Insaf Ka Tarazoo’ actor revealed that he and the legendary actress developed feelings for each other precisely when her previous relationship was breaking down.
The Start of a Connection
In an interview with Vickey Lalwani, Deepak Parashar revealed that his connection with Zeenat Aman started when the actress was under great stress. “When I met Zeenat, she was on the verge of a split,” he said, noting that they were shooting ‘Insaf Ka Tarazoo’. Parashar went on to add that her turmoil had a practical, financial root: “She had her personal reasons, mostly related to finance,” as she was growing increasingly anxious over money she had invested in a film directed by Sanjay Khan that was spiraling out of control.
The altercation that shook the set
In the same interview, Deepak Parashar recalled an episode that had happened when Sanjay Khan called Zeenat Aman from Khandala to Mumbai, and she had asked him to cover for her. “She told me that she would return later that same night and be ready for an early morning shot at 4 am,” he said. However, Zeenat never returned to the set that night.According to Deepak, his friendship was tragically misunderstood. He stated, “You could say that I was a very close friend, someone who offered his shoulder to cry on… This was misunderstood by Mr Abbas (Sanjay), who felt that she was two-timing.” The next morning, news of a confrontation arrived. “By 11 am, a call from Mumbai came… there they had an altercation. She was either pushed or beaten; I have no idea. She just told Chopra Saab that she was harassed and that she had gotten injured,” he shared. Deepak added that Zeenat remained silent publicly about the incident because “she was too dignified to say anything like that.”
Zeenat Aman’s perspective and healing
Years later, Zeenat Aman addressed this dark period in a 1999 interview, describing it as “distinctly unpleasant.” She explained how she coped and said, “For many years, in my mind, it’s been obliterated because I think that’s what the human mind does. When there is something distinctly unpleasant, you just close your mind to it and pretend that it never happened.” The alleged assault reportedly caused an eye injury, which Zeenat later revealed on Instagram required medical advancements for her to regain her full vision after four decades.On the other hand, Sanjay Khan has always denied all such allegations of assault, once referring to the narrative as “a one-sided PR attack.”Despite all the turmoil, Deepak Parashar insists his feelings for Zeenat were enduring and “mutual,” calling their connection one of the most emotional chapters of his life.
