Mithun Chakraborty recounts how Zeenat Aman’s praise helped him during his early career. According to his recollection, he once believed he would not move beyond “B-grade” films to “A-grade” projects. In describing that period, he credits a comment from Zeenat Aman with breaking the negative pattern he associated with his move to higher-profile work. The accounts describe the same narrative from different angles: one frames the story around Chakraborty’s belief that he would not transition to better roles, while another emphasizes Zeenat Aman's role in reversing his “B-grade” jinx through a single compliment. Both versions present the incident as part of his reflection on overcoming doubts and gaining confidence as his career progressed. The remarks are shared as part of his broader discussion of struggle days and the shift from lower-budget or less prominent work to mainstream success.