Harper’s Bazaar Women of the Year Awards 2025: The game-changing winners you need to know

It was a night that brimmed with elegance, ambition, and star power as we celebrated the annual Women of the Year Awards 2025 at the Trident, Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai, on October 25. The evening honoured trailblazing women who have shaped conversations across fashion, film, business, and culture, with the legendary Zeenat Aman being crowned as Icon of the Year. The red carpet came alive with A-listers such as Rasika Duggal, Dino Morea, Arunoday Singh, Eisha Chopra, Tisca Chopra, Alicia Kaur, Amrita Thakur, Anya Singh, Anaita Shroff, and Mitesh Rajani, among others, each embodying the very essence of glamour and power that defines the women of today.

Here's the complete list of winners of Harper's Bazaar Women of the Year Awards 2025:

ZEENAT AMAN
Icon Of The Year

A trailblazer and a trendsetter, Zeenat Aman redefined what it meant to be a leading lady in Indian cinema. From her unforgettable roles in Satyam Shivam Sundaram and Don, to her recent OTT debut with The Royals and her effortless transition into a voice of wisdom and authenticity today, she has always been ahead of her time. Fearless in her choices and inspiring across generations, Zeenat Aman continues to be an icon for all.

JANHVI KAPOOR
Actor

Since her debut in 2018 with Dhadak, Janhvi Kapoor has been on a meteoric rise. She is known to challenge herself with diverse roles, such as in the biopic Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl, the horror comedy Roohi, or the romcom Param Sundari. Her latest film, Homebound, has been making waves globally, garnering widespread praise and earning an Oscar nomination.

ANAMIKA KHANNA
Fashion Designer

Renowned fashion designer Anamika Khanna has revived Indian craft techniques and reinvented the way we look at our classic silhouettes. She was one of the first Indian designers to showcase at the Paris Fashion Week in 2007. Her ready-to-wear label, AK|OK, recently made waves at the London Fashion Week. She continues to cement her legacy as the woman who made Indian fashion a global language.

ANOUSHKA SHANKAR
Musician

Sitar player and musician Anoushka Shankar has established herself as an innovator of classical renditions, earning 11 Grammy nominations to date, and becoming the first Indian musician to perform live at the Grammy Awards. She has also been honoured with an Honorary Doctor of Music degree from Oxford University (2024) for her contributions to global music.

ANUPARNA ROY
Film Director

This year, filmmaker Anuparna Roy made history as the first Indian to receive the Best Director award in the Orizzonti section at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival for her debut feature film, Songs of Forgotten Trees. Roy captivated a global audience with her subtle and observational style of filmmaking, and we cannot wait to see what's next for her.

UJJWALA RAUT
Supermodel

Ujjwala Raut, one of India’s first international supermodels, started her career as a 17-year-old. She was the first Indian to become the face of YSL, and walked for Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, and Valentino, as well as the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in 2002 and 2003. Raut is celebrated on the fashion circuit for hercareer spanning nearly three decades.

ARPITA MEHTA
Spotlight: Fashion

Fashion designer Arpita Mehta is celebrated for her ability to marry traditional craftsmanship with modern silhouettes. With her flagship stores in Mumbai and Delhi, a growing presence across leading luxury multi-designer platforms, and a design philosophy rooted in quality, she is redefining modern Indian couture for a new generation. Her recent collaboration with Jo Malone London marked a significant creative milestone.

PRATIBHA RANTA
Spotlight: Actor

Pratibha Ranta is one of Bollywood’s most promising new talents, earning acclaim for her breakout performance in Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies. A natural performer with striking screen presence, she’s quickly becoming the face of a new generation of actors who bring honesty, depth, and freshness to the screen.

MONA PATEL
Style Icon

A serial entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist, Mona Patel bridges innovation, elegance, and purpose. Outside the boardroom, she is a passionate collector of haute couture—a personal archive that reflects her reverence for craftsmanship and cultural storytelling. Through her foundation, Couture for Cause, she channels this passion into purpose, funding initiatives that support girls’ education and women’s entrepreneurship across the globe.

SHEETAL DEVI
Sportsperson

The Arjuna Award-winning archer Sheetal Devi is an inspiration for millions. She made her international debut at the World Ranking Tournament, winning three medals in 2023. Sheetal made her Paralympics debut in Paris in 2024, earning a Bronze medal for India. She was recently crowned the World Archery champion at this year’s Para Archery Championship in South Korea.

PRIYANKA KAPADIA BADANI
Stylist

Priyanka Kapadia Badani is one of the most influential voices in India’s contemporary fashion landscape. As a celebrated stylist and creative consultant, she is known for her trendsetting vision and editorial brilliance. She has styled leading celebrities like Deepika Padukone, Alia Bhatt, and Sonam Kapoor, to name a few.

RITHIKA MERCHANT
Artist

A celebrated visual artist, Rithika Merchant, merges comparative mythology with science and speculative fiction to imagine a new and hopeful future. Her recent highlights include an installation in collaboration with The Chanakya School of Craft, for the Dior haute couture show in 2025 and her participation in the 11th Asia Pacific Triennale of Contemporary Art (2024) in Brisbane.

SUHANI PAREKH
Jewellery Designer

Celebrated jewellery designer, Suhani Parekh, is the visionary behind the award-winning design studio and globally renowned jewellery brand, Misho. Known for her sculptural, contemporary design vocabulary, Suhani’s innovative creations have earned global recognition and A-list clientele, including Beyonce, Rihanna, Kim Kardashian, to name a few.

SAVLEEN MANCHANDA
Make-up Artist

Celebrity make-up artist Savleen Manchanda’s roster speaks volumes about her craft. From red carpet moments, promotional looks for Kareena Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan, Sonam Kapoor, to her first Met Gala moment with Natasha Poonawalla, Savleen continues to leave her mark, one flawless look at a time.

DIIPA BULLER-KHOSLA
Luxury Content Creator

Global beauty entrepreneur and changemaker, Diipa Büller-Khosla, is redefining what it means to be a global woman of today. As the founder of indē wild, she has reimagined Ayurvedic tradition through modern science. She is one of the first Indian voices shaping global conversations in beauty and representation. Diipa is also the co-founder of Post for Change, a non-profit using social media for gender equality and menstrual health.

NAMRATA PUROHIT
Wellness

India’s most sought-after fitness expert and the co-founder of The Pilates Studio, Namrata Purohit, has revolutionised wellness by making fitness accessible, engaging, and transformative. Her studio is the first in the world to offer Pilates and a simulated altitude training room under one roof. Namrata’s elite clientele includes celebrities like Kareena Kapoor Khan, Sara Ali Khan, and Janhvi Kapoor.
 

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