The Sensation of the Retro Era and Miss Asia Pacific of yesteryears, Zeenat Aman turns 59 today! Zeenat is known for bringing the western herione look in Indian Cinema. She was considered a sex symbol throughout her acting career.

Zeenat was born to Muslim father and Hindu mother. Her father, Amanullah Khan was a scriptwriter and has written for movies like Mughal-e-Azam and Pakeezah. He died when Zeenat was 13.

Zeenat graduated from St. Xavier's College, Mumbai and went to University of Southern California, Los Angeles, for further studies on Scholarship. After returning to India, she started working as a journalist for Femina Magazine and later moved on to TV modeling. Her most prominent ad campaign was the Pond's 7 day to better complexion.

Zeenat entered the Miss India contest in 1970 and was the third runner up, to go to Miss Asia Pacific, a title she later won - being the first Indian to ever win that title (the same title was brought to India a second time in 2000 by Diya Mirza).

Zeenat was introduced to the movie screen by O.P. Ralhan in Hulchul with Kabir Bedi and later repeated by again by Ralhan in a cameo in Hungama. Zeenat was the third choice for the junkie 'Janice/Jasbeel' character in Dev Anand's Hare Rama Hare Krishna (1971) opposite himself and the then reigning queen Mumtaz. The film was an instant hit and Zeenat walked away with all the accolades shunning Mumtaz - never before had the Hindi cinema seen a newcomer overshadow the reigning queen. She won the Filmfare Award as Best Supporting Actress. For the first time, the Indian audience accepted a woman who played a 'less than pure' role in a movie.

Zeenat went on to revolutionise the Hindi film actress. She was the first Indian actress who wasn't a good dancer, who refused bouffants, cropped a bob at the height of her career and hardly appeared in saris and bindis. She took on roles of the modern urban Indian woman, who made no excuses and took no prisoners. Few of her noted films are Hare Rama Hare Krishna (1971), Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973), Roti Kapda aur Makaan (1974), Ajbanbee (1974), Chori Mera Kaam (1975), Dharam Veer (1977), Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahin (1977), Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1978), Don (1978), Alibaba Aur 40 Chor (1980), Qurbani (1980), Dostana (1980), Professor Pyarelal (1981), Laawaris (1981), Teesri Aankh (1982), Hum Se Hai Zamana (1983), Baat Ban Jaye (1986) and Daku Hasina (1987).

Zeenat married fellow actor Mazhar Khan and gave birth to two sons, turning down multiple film offers. Zeenat's contribution to the Indian cinema is not fully recognised as yet, but in time to come she will definitely be remembered as the first person to introduce a lot to India and add several dimensions to Indian women. She is known to have revolutionized the portrayal of Indian Women in its cinema.

FridayMoviez wishes Zeenat Aman a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!