Age is not a bar when it comes to walking the runway and proof of that is the gorgeous Zeenat Aman, who showed grace on the ramp at the recent Indian Runway Week. Post-show, she shared a few candid moments with Unnati Joshi
She will always be a trendsetter. At 64, she dazzled the ramp, dancing to Chura liya hai tumne jo dil ko and dum maro dum, recreating the magic of her era. At the India Runway Week, Zeenat sashayed in black floor-length gown with statement neck and hand accessories and shades. A sassy touch to nostalgia.
“I got nostalgic when I walked the ramp on one of my favourite tracks. Akassh (the jewellery designer) is a great person and a very creative designer. It was lovely to be a part of his show. And he chose me as his muse. No wonder it felt good.”
Asked about her style mantra, she said,” Well my style mantra is to be comfortable in what you wear. If you are comfortable with what you are wearing, you will always feel confident and when you are confident, you project the real person that exists within you.”
While the nation went gaga over her, she says coming to the film industry was mere coincidence. “Coming to this Industry was totally by accident and not by design really. But I will always treasure some great memories like, acting in Hare Krishna Hare Rama. I did films like Bandhan Kachche Dhaagon Ka, and there were some wonderful scenes in Satyam Shivam Sundaram. There were a lot of scenes in a lot of films that stand out. But you know what; the songs I did went on to became big hits. For instance, the song from Qurbani orYaadon ki Baaraat”. Who can forget Zeenat Aman, dressed in a slinky red gown with long slits highlighting her long legsIJ She is one of a kind. “Bollywood has accepted me for who I am. Entire Bollywood industry is like one happy family. I have made great friends here. I appreciate the professionalism, unity and integrity of the industry. Bollywood has taught me way too much. But one big thing I have learnt is that I should always be myself. No two people’s journeys are the same, so why should their approach be the sameIJ I trust my gut.”
Even as the entire nation continues to have a crush on her, the glamour goddess of seventies said, “I am glad. Who doesn’t feel good about itIJ I feel I am blessed to have such wonderful fans who are constantly supporting me. God has given me a lot. It is not out of greed that I want more money. I’m just saying value me. At the end of the day, you want respect. That’s all you want.”
The first South Asian woman to win the Miss Asia Pacific in 1970, the actress was also a trailblazer when it came to introducing glamour in Hindi cinema.
Asked why women in Bollywood pause their acting after a certain age, she said “There are no age appropriate roles. If age appropriate roles are created, we have very talented actresses who would love to work”.
“I have not been offered anything substantial in last few years. Being a single parent, the past years of my life have been devoted to my two sons. Raising my sons has been my only priority. Now that they are growing up, I am open to any appropriate roles,” she added.
Comparing her days in Bollywood with today’s time she said, “In my days, the challenge was massive in etching strong characters as there were few reference points those time. Television, media, internet was minimal, all you have to do was create from own belief. Movies those time weren’t heroine-centric so it was a challenge for female protagonist to etch a strong mark in audience memory.” But are the movies women-centric nowIJ “A few years ago, when people were being asked this question, they were being diplomatic about it. Today we’re talking about it because in all walks of life, women are earning money and the power game has shifted. Today, an actress has much to do. look at Vidya Balan in Kahaani or The Dirty Picture and Kareena (Kapoor) in Jab We Met and Heroine. Heroine-centric films are rare but there are fewer films where women are used just as decorative items. Now you have actresses coming from good families, who are educated and understand the business. Nobody can force them to do something against their will”.
She also lamented the current trend of making movies just for the sake of it. “These days, with a few exception, the focus on script is way too less which really bothers me. Old movies were with a purpose and I think the time is such that they could not have had such limitations. Those movies were made with a message, a meaning and most of all keeping viewer ship in mind. Coming today the movies have come of age but lost the basic ingredients as to they are being made. Thanks to minting of money and unnecessary competition now days they have lost the main aim-purpose and viewer ship. In old days the movies were made to last for eternity with a strong script(many to name of course)but now except for a few u hardly remember a movie with a message. They have become more of marketing agencies for money by beautification rather than substance,” she said signing off.