Mumtaz condemns Zeenat Aman for promoting live-in

While she has been hailed as ‘cool’ and ‘modern’ by fans, her Hare Rama Hare Krishna co-star and yesteryear actor, Mumtaz disagreed with her. “I don’t agree with Zeenat,” she asserted during an interview with Zoom. 

Zeenat Aman has always been unconventional, be it her looks or roles and as far as relationships are concerned, she doesn’t have the usual approach. The Don actor strongly recommends youngsters opt for a live-in relationship before they say ‘I do.’ The 72-year-old recently took to her Instagram account to pen her pearls of wisdom. “Here’s a personal opinion I haven’t previously shared – if you’re in a relationship, I strongly recommend that you LIVE TOGETHER before getting married! This is the same advice I’ve always given my sons, both of whom have had, or are in, a live-in relationship (sic),” read an excerpt from her note.

The actress had a different opinion on live-in relationships and marriage, and added, “Kitna bhi live-in kar lo, kya guarantee hai (What is the assurance that even after living-in together your marriage will be a success)? Main toh kehti hoon, marriage hi nahin honi chahiye. What is the need to tie yourself down in this day and age? Why marry? For children? Arrey, go out there, find the man who appeals to you, and get his baby without physical intimacy. Zamana bahot aage chala gaya hai (the society had evolved).” The Roti and Do Raaste actor advocated for raising one’s children in a way that they’re “self-sufficient” while daughters grow up to believe that  “they don’t need a man to be complete”. “I have been married for more than forty years. Shaadi nibhani padti hai (Marriage needs maintenance). It is not easy,” she added. 

Mumtaz felt her contemporary, Zeenat, suggesting live-in relationships isn’t ideal, citing that the Indian society isn’t “ready for it”.  “Zeenat should be careful with what she is advising. She has all of a sudden come into this huge social media popularity, and I can understand her excitement about sounding like a cool aunty. But giving advice that is counter to our moral values is not the solution to increasing your following,” she urged.

She further argued that if live-in relationships become a norm,  they might make the idea of marriage redundant and irrelevant. “If girls adopt the live-in culture, marriage as an institution will become obsolete. Tell me honestly, would you marry your son to a girl whom you know to have been in a live-in relationship? Aap Zeenat ko hi le lo misaal ke taur par (Take Zeenat for example)… She knew Mazhar Khan for years before marrying him. Her marriage was a living hell. She should be the last person doling out advice on relationships.”

While Manisha Koirala refused to comment on the topic, stating that she is not a ‘good adviser on relationships,’ Celina Jaitly told the outlet that cohabitating couples always have an easy way out of the relationship. “This is the most common reason why people living together get separated over time.  They will no longer work hard to save their relationship because they are not bonded by marriage,” she commented.  

(This story has not been edited by News Mania staff and is published from a Media Release)