Zeenat is sexiest!

She’s exceedingly warm and effusive. Can’t see a traceof reticence or reserve there. She’s also quite worked up. Her large rubydrop earring has broken into two and there’s no way she can fix it.“I was supposed to wear them for the next event, and I feel so incompletewithout them. I don’t think these substitute earrings really go with therest of my ensemble,” she says, even as she’s furiously rummagingher mini-bar to see what she can offer me. Zeenat Aman isincredibly beautiful and warm. How does it feel to be voted asBollywood’s sexiest woman? “I was in New York when suddenly thedeluge of calls and congratulatory messages had me learning of this distinction.My first reaction was ‘what were they thinking?! I mean, honestly, to topa list where Madhubala is being ranked second! But, yes, it’s beenenormously flattering!” Happy too she is to have such a largefan following in Chennai. “I was presented an award by Sanskriti andI’m so chuffed to know that so many people have followed my films and werethere to felicitate me. Chennai is a lovely place and the folks down here areexceptionally warm. I’m big on the food here.” Sheheralded the sexual revolution in Bollywood with her seductive and sensuousgyrations in Hare Krishna Hare Ram, but Zeenat laments the fact that she gottrapped in this image. “I was unapologetically sensual. However, there wasfar more to me than I can say was unravelled or explored. For a cerebral personlike me, being slotted into a niche was limiting.”Wasn’t choosing the marriage route primarily to have kids acontradiction for someone as emancipated as her? “Despite my upbringingand convent education, at heart, I’m very much an Indian with a deepsense of Indian values. So, there wasn’t a chance of my deciding to havekids out of wedlock.” Any regrets? “ What regret could I possiblyhave? I’ve two strapping young lads who make sure that I stay and feelyoung. The older one has made me a heavy metal fan and the younger one is agenius in the kitchen.”But what about herself; is she planning tostay single? “I’ve been single for more than 10 years now. Thatcould well change anytime. But, no, there’s no one at the moment.”She’d said in an interview that she finds it difficultto sit through Hindi movies. Does she still find Hindi movies insufferable?“Well, now my older son vets the movies and I watch only the movies herecommends. I think there’s amazing talent and beauty in the industry,and it’s sheer star power that makes movies workhere.”Does she rue being away from Bollywood for almost adecade? “Staying away from the limelight was purely a conscious decision.What we need is more age-appropriate roles for older women.”It’sbeen an hour now and she’s got to rush. Before that, she shows me herprecious ruby earring, two pieces caressing each other and lovingly wrapped upin a tissue paper. Follow us on Twitter formore stories