Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai (DD)

Mumbai, Jun 4: Veteran actress and style icon Zeenat Aman on Tuesday took to Instagram to share a heartfelt post reflecting on her early days in the modelling industry — but with her trip down memory lane came a gentle tinge of regret.

Now 72, the evergreen diva admitted that most of her precious keepsakes from her illustrious five-decade career have been lost over time. “I’m an awful archivist,” she wrote, candidly expressing her disappointment about missing old photographs, letters, and slides that once captured the golden moments of her modelling and cinematic journey.

Accompanying her nostalgic post was a charming collage of rare print advertisements — including classic campaigns for Air India and Lux — that showcased her early years in the limelight. One particular Air India ad featured her as the “dark-haired beauty,” which she acknowledged might be critiqued today for its portrayal but still holds a strong sentimental value.

“There’s a charm to print advertisements that video can never replicate,” Zeenat noted, adding that discovering such vintage ads online often gives her a “jolt of recollection.” She also fondly remembered an old jewellery ad shoot with model-turned-author Shobhaa De. “Some years ago, we met in Australia and recreated the old frames just for fun,” she wrote.

One of the frames showed a vibrant, retro-chic Zeenat in a flower power-inspired look — bellbottoms, stripes, and all. “Clearly, California in the 60s had an influence on my fashion,” she remarked, reflecting on her youthful days spent abroad.

Her long-standing endorsement with Lux soap also found a place in the collage, which she jokingly described as the brand running “several advertisements with my mug!” She invited fans to vote for their favourite ad, rekindling memories for many who grew up idolising her.

Though much of her personal archive has faded with time, Zeenat Aman’s social media presence has become a digital treasure trove, giving fans a glimpse into the timeless charm she brought to both the silver screen and the glossy pages of history.