#BazaarWomenInFocus: 'Icon of the Year' Zeenat Aman is still setting her own rules

Some women define their times; others transcend them. Zeenat Aman has done both. At the Harper’s Bazaar Women of the Year 2025 awards, held on October 25, Aman was honoured as the Icon of the Year—a title that feels less like a label and more like an affirmation of what she has always represented.

From her cinematic debut in the 1970s to her effortless rise as one of Indian cinema’s most magnetic and unabashed leading ladies, Aman has always been a step ahead—breaking stereotypes, rewriting femininity, and inspiring generations with her independence, intellect, and quintessential style. Decades later, her influence remains as powerful as ever, extending far beyond the screen into the realm of culture and consciousness.

On stage at the event, Aman exuded the same calm command that once made her one of the most sought-after stars of her era. Her voice, poised, carried words that echoed years of experience

"Thank you, Harper's Bazaar, for this very special award, and I am grateful to be here in the company of such illustrious and accomplished ladies. For me, elegance isn't about the fabric that is stitched. It is about how you carry your story. It is about the language of confidence, individuality, and being feminine," she stated.

"And every one of you ladies who have been honoured here this evening has accomplished the same. So thank you. Thank you very much," she added.

Her words captured everything she has stood for through the years—grace, self-assurance, and the quiet strength of a woman who has lived life entirely on her own terms.

Through her unforgettable performances in films like Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Don, Hare Rama Hare Krishna, and Qurbani, Zeenat Aman revolutionised the image of the Hindi film heroine. She brought to Indian cinema a rare modernity—a blend of sensuality, intellect, and self-possession that felt both radical and refreshing. At a time when the idea of a “leading lady” was defined by innocence and conformity, she introduced complexity and control. She was glamorous, yes, but she was also real.

Even today, Aman continues to redefine relevance. With her recent OTT debut in The Royals, she once again proved that artistry has no age, only evolution. But it’s her reinvention on social media that has made her a voice for contemporary audiences—her captions reflective, humorous, and disarmingly honest. She speaks about life, ageing, love, and freedom with the kind of openness that few celebrities dare to in the digital age. In doing so, she has become an icon for a new generation—one that values authenticity over perfection.

Aman, the woman who once taught the women of a nation how to dream, is now teaching them how to be. How to wear one’s story with confidence. How to see elegance not as an external quality but as an inner truth.

For over five decades, she has been the blueprint of timelessness—uncompromising, unapologetic, and ever-evolving. And as she stood before a room of powerful women, her message was simple yet profound: that beauty fades, trends change, but grace—the kind that comes from authenticity—never goes out of style.

At the Women of the Year 2025 Awards, Zeenat Aman wasn’t just celebrated for her legacy; she was honoured for her enduring relevance—proof that true icons don’t age, they evolve.
 

Also read: Zeenat Aman on authenticity, style, and the power of staying true to yourself

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