Did you know Zeenat Aman was yelled at by a director as Amitabh Bachchan was late on set?

Amitabh Bachchan perhaps got one of the sweetest surprises in the form of a wish from his Don co-star Zeenat Aman on his birthday. The veteran actor turned 81 on Wednesday, 10 October. Marking Big B’s special day, Zeenat Aman shared an elaborate note on her Instagram handle a day later. The actress began by saying, “I missed wishing Mr. Bachchan on his birthday yesterday, so let me make up for it by telling a story about him that I mentioned previously.”

Zeenat Aman narrated a story of that only time Amitabh Bachchan was late to set, according to her. She went on to say, “We had a morning shift that day, and I hitched a ride to set with the film’s producer. As always, I had my script in hand and rehearsed my lines as we drove to the studio. Upon my arrival, I went directly to my makeup room, and informed the crew to send me a message once Mr. Bachchan was ready for the shot,” the actress said.

The celebrated star further noted that an assistant director knocked on her door after about an hour and informed that Amitabh Bachchan had arrived and walked straight to the set. Zeenat added that their roll time came and went but there was no sigh of the superstar. After about an hour, an AD informed her that Big B had arrived and gone straight to the set.

Zeenat continued, “I immediately leapt up and made my way downstairs. I had just about stepped foot on set when from across the room the director let loose a torrent of abuse! He was absolutely catatonic, and under the impression that it was I who had held up production.” She added that the crew members were stunned as the director ranted at her. The actress was in tears and made an about-turn, marching back to her makeup room. She even told her team to pack up.

Big B, however, apologised on the director’s behalf and convinced the actress to resume the shoot. Zeenat stated, “Even as they zipped up my makeup kit, the lovely producer arrived at my door, followed closely by Mr. Bachchan. ‘Babs, I know it’s my fault. The man is a fool and he’s drunk. Let it go and let’s get to work,’ he said. I accepted Mr. Bachchan’s apology of course but I was still stinging from the unwarranted dressing down I had received.”

The actress concluded saying that she was in no mood to shoot following the humiliation. When she agreed to finally come back on set, Zeenat added that the director “threw himself at my feet and begged my forgiveness”. She asserted that although she competed that particular film, she never worked with that person again. It was, however, not known which film’s shooting it was.

Zeenat Aman shared the screen space with Amitabh Bachchan in several iconic films like Don, Dostana, Laawaris, Pukar, The Great Gambler and so on.