Mumbai, October 13, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty has expressed his enduring gratitude to actress Zeenat Aman for standing by him during the early stages of his career, when he struggled to find acceptance in mainstream Hindi cinema.
During an appearance on the singing reality show ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa’ in 2023, Mithun recalled how many people doubted his potential to become a leading man, with some dismissing him as a small-time star.
“They thought I was a ‘chota star’. ‘Yeh kabhi kya hero banega?’ (How will he ever become a hero?). Who will make him a hero? They said so many things about me. I don’t even want to say it. It still hurts,” he recalled.
The actor said his journey from B-grade films to mainstream cinema was far from easy. According to Mithun, some actresses even walked out of projects after their announcements, while he believed that professional insecurity among other actors may have contributed to the difficulties he faced.
“There was a time when I thought I wouldn’t transition from B-grade films to A-grade films. There were times when the actresses walked out even after the film was announced,” he said.
Mithun added that some actresses may have been discouraged from working with him because other actors feared he would eventually become successful.
However, Zeenat Aman was willing to work with him when others hesitated. Recalling her response, Mithun said she had praised his looks and agreed to act alongside him.
“Zeenat ji said, ‘What a good-looking man he is!’ I will do the film with him. It was Zeenat ji who broke the jinx,” he said.
Mithun noted that Zeenat was one of the leading actresses of that era, and her decision to work with him encouraged other actresses to accept projects featuring him. He credited the release of ‘Taqdeer’ with helping him establish himself as an A-category actor.
Expressing his appreciation for her support, Mithun said he would always remain grateful to Zeenat for helping him overcome that difficult phase of his career.
“Zeenat ji, if you are listening to me, I offer my ‘pranaam’ to you,” he said.
His recollection highlights the importance he attaches to the support he received early in his career, when opportunities in mainstream cinema were difficult to secure.
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