Mithun Chakraborty, who recently received the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award for his immense contribution to Indian cinema, had a challenging journey in the film industry. The actor faced numerous rejections early in his career, with no actress willing to work with him. It was Zeenat Aman who broke this jinx, and Mithun has remained grateful to her ever since.
Early Struggles and Rejections
During an appearance on the television show 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa', Mithun recalled his struggling days. He said, "Kitni ladaai ek insaan lad sakta hai. Koi bhi badi heroine mere saath kaam karne ko taiyaar nahin thi. They thought I was a 'chota star.' 'Yeh kabhi kya hero banega?' Kya kya bolte they mere baare mein. Phir dard hota hai." (How many battles can a person fight? No big actress was ready to work with me. They said I could never become a hero. They said many unsavory things about me, which I don't even want to repeat. It only hurts me.)
He added, "There was a time when I thought I wouldn't transition from B-grade films to A-grade films. Actresses walked out even after the film was announced. There was pressure, and other actors were insecure that I would make it big someday. They warned heroines, 'If you work with him, you can't work with us.'"
Zeenat Aman Changes Everything
The turning point came when Zeenat Aman agreed to act with Mithun in the film 'Taqdeer'. Mithun recalled that Zeenat once said, "What a good-looking man he is! I will do the film with him." He further added, "It was Zeenat ji who broke the jinx. She was the number-one heroine of that time, so following her footsteps, every other actress started saying yes to my films. With 'Taqdeer's release, I became an A-category actor. I will forever be grateful to Zeenat ji for helping me attain that. Zeenat ji, if you are listening, I offer my pranaam to you."
Gratitude and Legacy
Mithun has consistently expressed his gratitude to Zeenat over the years, acknowledging her role in changing the course of his career. His journey from facing rejection to becoming a celebrated actor is a testament to his perseverance and the support of a generous co-star.
