Zeenat Aman, a trailblazing actress known for her height and Westernized persona, recently shared a humorous anecdote about working with Rishi Kapoor in the 1977 film Hum Kisise Kum Naheen. According to Zeenat, during a romantic scene on a couch, she appeared much taller than Rishi, who was about six inches shorter. To compensate for the height difference, the crew resorted to propping Rishi up with cushions. Zeenat recalls that Rishi Kapoor was not pleased with this arrangement.

Zeenat Aman, who at 5'8" was considered tall for Bollywood actresses of her time, had a unique experience navigating an industry where leading men often preferred their female co-stars to be shorter. In those days, it was common for heroes to employ various tricks to appear taller, including wearing shoes with thick soles or using short stools during filming. Zeenat, aware of this unspoken rule, often wore flats to avoid towering over her co-stars like Rajesh Khanna, Sanjeev Kumar, Jeetendra, and Shashi Kapoor.

However, there were exceptions. Amitabh Bachchan, Vinod Khanna, and Shatrughan Sinha, who were all quite tall, didn't mind Zeenat wearing moderate heels. But even they reportedly wouldn't allow her to wear four-inch heels, which would have made her as tall as them.

The incident with Rishi Kapoor highlights the height dynamics prevalent in Bollywood at the time. While today's actors are seemingly more comfortable with taller actresses, it wasn't always the case. Actresses like Deepika Padukone, who stands tall at 5'9", have become increasingly common, and many actors have adjusted to working with women who are their height or even taller. Shah Rukh Khan, for instance, has humorously acknowledged the advantages of working with taller actresses like Deepika. Aamir Khan has also quipped that he enjoys romancing taller women.

In contrast, Zeenat Aman, who broke stereotypes and paved the way for future generations of tall actresses, had to navigate a different landscape. Her experience with Rishi Kapoor and the cushion incident remains a memorable and amusing reminder of the challenges and compromises actresses faced in the past. The anecdote also reveals a lighter side of Rishi Kapoor, painting a picture of his reaction to being made fun of for his height.