Zeenat Aman reveals she would have loved to play Priyanka Chopra’s character in Bajirao Mastani: “It was a complex role that piqued my interest”

March 7, 2025 - 11:37 AM IST

Veteran Bollywood actress Zeenat Aman recently engaged with fans during a Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) session, where she candidly shared her thoughts on past and present films. When asked if there was a recent Bollywood role she wished she could have played, the actress revealed that Priyanka Chopra’s role in Bajirao Mastani intrigued her. Zeenat Aman admitted she wasn’t sure if she would have "nailed it," but the complexity of the character fascinated her.

Zeenat Aman reveals she would have loved to play Priyanka Chopra’s character in Bajirao Mastani: “It was a complex role that piqued my interest”

During the session, a fan asked, “While watching recent Bollywood films, have you ever felt that you would have nailed a particular role in your time?” In response, Zeenat Aman said, “I don’t know whether I would have nailed it, but I would have loved the chance to play Priyanka Chopra’s character in Bajirao Mastani. It was a complex role that piqued my interest.”

Zeenat Aman’s Take on Kashibai’s Character

For those unfamiliar, Priyanka Chopra portrayed Kashibai, the first wife of Peshwa Bajirao, in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s 2015 epic Bajirao Mastani. The film, also starring Ranveer Singh as Bajirao and Deepika Padukone as Mastani, depicted the historical love triangle between the three characters. Priyanka’s performance was widely appreciated for its depth, emotional intensity, and historical authenticity. Zeenat Aman’s admiration for the role suggests her keen interest in portraying layered, strong female characters.

Zeenat Aman on Her Own Iconic Roles and Changing Times

Apart from discussing Bajirao Mastani, Zeenat Aman also spoke about her own filmography. When asked which of her past roles felt the most like her real-life personality, she chose Manoranjan (1974), saying, “I absolutely loved my character Nisha from Manoranjan. High energy and full of joie de vivre.”

Reflecting on how Bollywood has evolved since her time, Zeenat Aman highlighted the growing presence of women in the industry. “I know people like to criticise the Hindi film industry, and much of it is valid. But I think a major and positive improvement I see is that there are women at every rung of the process pulling their weight and claiming their place with competence. In my time, it wasn’t unusual to be the only woman on set! So this is a striking difference to me,” she shared.

On the professional front, Zeenat Aman is set to return to the screen with Bun Tikki, directed by Faraz Arif Ansari, where she will star alongside Abhay Deol and Shabana Azmi. Additionally, she will feature in Netflix’s upcoming rom-com series The Royals, which revolves around modern-day Indian royalty and stars Bhumi Pednekar and Ishaan Khatter.

Also Read: Zeenat Aman recounts health scare at home: “It’s discomfort was intense, I sought solutions from others, but ultimately…”