Veteran actress Zeenat Aman has spoken candidly about the limited and largely decorative roles assigned to women in Bollywood, making the remarks during an interaction with the makers of the documentary 'Journey Into India'. The 'Yaadon Ki Baaraat' star's observations cut to the heart of a debate that has long simmered in the Hindi film industry.

The Ornamental Role Problem

Aman did not mince words when describing the status quo. '90% of the time, most of the women here are just playing ornamental roles, purely ornamental. They sing, and dance, and sort of prance around the leading man, and that's about it,' she said. The assessment, coming from an actress who herself broke several stereotypes in the 1970s, carries particular weight — she was among the first mainstream Hindi film stars to take on unconventional, bold characterisations at a time when the industry was far more conservative.

Signs of Change, According to Aman

Despite her sharp critique, Aman acknowledged that a shift is underway. She noted that leading actresses are now actively pushing back against token parts and demanding substantive screen presence. 'What I feel is happening now is that there are changes coming about. There are women demanding, you know, good roles and refusing to work in films unless they have participation. They want to do something, they demand something, and they are getting something to do,' she said. She described this as an exciting development, adding that 'the women in India should have something to identify with other than, you know, just ornamentation.'

A Career That Defied Convention

Aman's authority on the subject is rooted in a career that spanned some of Hindi cinema's most defining decades. After winning the Femina Miss India title and the Miss Asia Pacific International pageant in 1970, she made her Bollywood debut with the 1971 film 'Hulchul'. Her breakthrough came with Dev Anand's cult classic 'Haré Rama Haré Krishna', which established her as a distinct screen presence rather than a conventional leading lady.

She went on to appear in a string of major commercial successes through the decade, including 'Yaadon Ki Baaraat' (1973), 'Roti Kapada Aur Makaan' (1974), 'Ajanabee' (1974), 'Warrant' (1975), 'Chori Mera Kaam' (1975), 'Dharam Veer' (1977), 'Chhailla Babu' (1977), 'Hum Kisise Kum Naheen' (1977), and 'The Great Gambler' (1979).

Why This Conversation Still Matters

Aman's remarks arrive amid a broader industry reckoning. A growing number of female-led Hindi films have delivered strong box-office returns in recent years, lending commercial credibility to the argument that audiences are ready for women in central, complex roles. Critics and industry observers note, however, that progress remains uneven — top-line pay parity and equal screen time are still outliers rather than norms. Aman's framing — that women must demand participation rather than wait for it to be offered — reflects a structural reality the industry has yet to fully resolve.