Mumtaz condemns Zeenat Aman for advocating live-in: ‘She should be the last person doling out advice on relationships…’ |

Zeenat Aman, who is currently enjoying her popularity on social media, recently promoted and strongly recommended youngsters to opt for live-in relationships before getting married. Although praised as ‘cool’ and ‘modern’ by her admirers, Zeenat Aman‘s co-star from ‘Hare Rama Hare Krishna,’ the veteran actor Mumtazheld a different opinion.
The actress had a different opinion on live-in relationships and marriage, and added, “Kitna bhi live-in kar lo, kya guarantee hai (What is the assurance that even after living-in together your marriage will be a success)? Main toh kehti hoon, marriage hi nahin honi chahiye.What is the need to tie yourself down in this day and age? Why marry? For children? Arrey, go out there, find the man who appeals to you, and get his baby without physical intimacy. Zamana bahot aage chala gaya hai (the society had evolved).”

In an interview with Zoom, Mumtaz shared her divergent perspective on live-in relationships and marriage, suggesting that there’s no assurance of marital success even after living together. She questioned the necessity of marriage in modern times, advocating for freedom from societal constraints. She proposed the idea of having children without the formalities of marriage, emphasizing the evolving norms of society.

The actor known for roles in ‘Roti’ and ‘Do Raaste’ advocated for raising children to be self-sufficient, particularly encouraging daughters to understand that they don’t require a man to fulfill themselves. Reflecting on her own experience of over forty years of marriage, she emphasized the necessity of actively maintaining a marriage, acknowledging that it’s not without its challenges.
Mumtaz expressed her disagreement with Zeenat’s suggestion of live-in relationships, believing that Indian society isn’t prepared for such arrangements. She cautioned Zeenat about the potential impact of her advice, especially considering her newfound social media prominence. Mumtaz emphasized the importance of adhering to moral values rather than pursuing popularity, urging caution in giving advice that contradicts societal norms.

She continued her argument, suggesting that widespread acceptance of live-in relationships could render the institution of marriage obsolete and irrelevant. Mumtaz questioned whether parents would be willing to marry their sons to women who had been in live-in relationships. Using Zeenat’s own experience as an example, Mumtaz highlighted the challenges Zeenat faced in her marriage to Mazhar Khan after knowing him for years, implying that Zeenat’s own marital struggles disqualify her from offering relationship advice.
While Manisha Koirala declined to offer her opinion on the matter, stating that she doesn’t consider herself a suitable advisor on relationships, Celina Jaitley shared her perspective with the outlet. Jaitly expressed her belief that couples who cohabit often find it easier to exit the relationship. She suggested that this ease of separation can lead to a lack of effort in preserving the relationship, as the commitment of marriage is not present to motivate them to work through challenges.

In her post, Zeenat highlighted society’s reservations regarding couples living together before marriage. She acknowledged that Indian society often views such arrangements as taboo, using the colloquial phrase ‘living in sin’ to describe them. Zeenat reflected on the broader issue of societal judgment, questioning the significance of conforming to societal norms simply to avoid criticism or gossip.