Zeenat Aman recalls Samundar Mein Naha Ke shoot with Amitabh Bachchan: ‘His first after the Coolie accident’

Veteran actress Zeenat Aman, known for sharing fascinating anecdotes from her illustrious career, recently took fans down memory lane with a refreshing recollection. She revisited the filming of the iconic song Samundar Mein Naha Ke with Amitabh Bachchan and shared intriguing details about the experience. In her candid note, she spoke about wearing a “titillating” white outfit while Big B “pranced” around her, as well as the lively atmosphere on set, which was Bachchan’s first shoot after recovering from his near-fatal Coolie accident in 1982.

Zeenat Aman shares a nostalgic throwback from the 80s

“Uff… I’ll be candid. This is a bit of a gratuitous post brought on by the summer. It’s just so damn hot! The weather, I mean. Though I won’t be too coy to say that Mr Bachchan and I romancing to those salty lyrics are quite sizzling too,” she began, with her characteristic charm.

Taking fans on a nostalgic trip to the 1980s, Zeenat reminisced about shooting in Goa when it was far less crowded. She recalled, “Director-producer Ramesh Behl’s Pukar was a blast to shoot. Its anti-colonial underpinning, excellent cast, and catchy songs were what drew me to the script. Now, Goa in the early 80s was quiet, idyllic, and unpeopled. So Samundar Mein Naha Ke was shot on an empty beach, and it was an easy-breezy affair. For me at least! I didn’t have any lip-syncing to do, nor much choreography to learn.”

Aman then revealed the simple directive she received before filming. “The brief was as basic as they come – look pretty! So there I was in a titillating white outfit, with a bit of midriff on display, rolling around in the surf, while Mr Bachchan pranced around me like an ardent bird-of-paradise.”




‘I had to swallow nerves and seawater,’ says Zeenat on filming the song

However, one major challenge stood in her way – she couldn’t swim. “My otherwise seamless performance was hindered by one small fact – I can’t swim! I had to swallow a fair amount of nerves (and seawater) for those shots of me writhing in the swash! Despite taking a few tumbles in the waves and being left with sand in uncomfortable places, I thought I did a convincing job of being a jal pari (mermaid),” she wrote.

Encouraging her followers to spread some summer joy, Zeenat Aman suggested, “Whether in romantic or platonic relationships, share this post with anyone who deserves a beachside getaway this summer.”



Amitabh Bachchan’s first shoot post-Coolie accident

She also revealed a significant trivia about the shoot, writing, “P.S.: Here’s another tidbit for you. This was Mr Bachchan’s first shoot after the life-threatening accident he suffered on the sets of Coolie in 1982. Bachchan mania was well-established in the country by then, and the nation practically held its breath till he was in the clear. So as you can imagine, the atmosphere on set was particularly buoyant during the making of this film.”



Zeenat Aman’s upcoming projects

On the work front, Zeenat Aman will next be seen in The Royals and Bun Tikki.


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