Zeenat Aman, who captivated Indians in the 1970s with her unconventional Bollywood roles and style, is making waves on the internet with her unique takes on everyday life. Earlier this week, she shared a heartfelt note to bid farewell to 2024.
She shared a series of photos amid Mumbai's cool weather, revealing that she had “quite contentedly resigned” herself to a quiet retirement two years ago before being welcomed back into the public spotlight. Expressing gratitude for the opportunities and admiration she continues to receive, she emphasised how busy 2024 was for her with all “the shoots in Shimla and Rajasthan, speaking engagements across the country, social media collaborations, and a lot more.”
Similarly veteran act
Zeenat Aman, who captivated Indians in the 1970s with her unconventional Bollywood roles and style, is making waves on the internet with her unique takes on everyday life. Earlier this week, she shared a heartfelt note to bid farewell to 2024.
She shared a series of photos amid Mumbai's cool weather, revealing that she had “quite contentedly resigned” herself to a quiet retirement two years ago before being welcomed back into the public spotlight. Expressing gratitude for the opportunities and admiration she continues to receive, she emphasised how busy 2024 was for her with all “the shoots in Shimla and Rajasthan, speaking engagements across the country, social media collaborations, and a lot more.”
Similarly veteran actor Waheeda Rehman was in the news recently, for taking up wildlife photography at the age of 81. I just got exhausted merely reading her travel itinerary which enabled her to put up her first photography exhibition. Our society is very quick in labelling 70-plus women as redundant, and inactive. The image we are fed is that of an old woman, watching a saas-bahu serial on television, or doing puja, wrapped in woollens from head to toe, or even bed-ridden, constantly complaining of joint pain. But is that all there is today to getting old.
Does turning 60 or 70 or 80 mean that women must retire from active social life, or quit pursuing their passion or speaking their mind?
Rehman isn’t the only female actor over seventy has been in news. The very charming 72-year-old Asha Parekh gave a candid interview about being “self-partnered,” Author Shobha De isn’t showing any signs of slowing down, writing books and columns, attending fests and being very active on social media. In fact, in 2017, she wrote a book titled Seventy . . .: And to Hell With It! But one doesn’t just have to women in limelight to realise of the portrayal of women over seventy is in stark contrast to how they are leading active and fulfilling lives.
My paternal grandmother took to learning Sanskrit in her seventies so that she could read scriptures in depth. She started with my school books to get her basics right and slowly brush up her command on the language. My seventy-something grandma then gave me a very important lesson, just with her persistence; that age is never a barrier in pursuing knowledge or doing what you want to do.
The sense of relevance that comes from leading lives on their own terms has given them the confidence to not care much about what others have to say about them.
In fact, for most women, life actually begins being fun in the post-retirement phase. Their youth and middle age often end up being devoted to raising children, earning paychecks, and managing their homes. Who has any time for hobbies? But by the time they are past sixties, the kids are settled in their own adult lives and financial matters are somewhat sorted, plus you have time on your hands. Which means older women are following their passion, continuing to work because they want to. They are travelling more than ever and they voice their opinion loudly.
We are in the age of cool grandmas, who can discuss web-series and memes with you, who are running marathons and managing homestays. The sense of relevance that comes from leading lives on their own terms has given them the confidence to not care much about what others have to say about them. Of course, there are those who want them to retire quietly.
To do gardening or watch television, or simply look after their grandkids. But here’s the deal, women over seventies are finally in a phase where they are done and dusted with their duties and thus they are accountable to no one. They can do as they please, and while they’ll babysit their grandkids, it doesn’t mean they not compromise on a weekend getaway with friends.
I wish more and more women realised that ageing is a beautiful thing. It liberates you from stigmas and duties. We women spend our youth catering to social and familial demands and stereotypes. Why must we do so in old age too? What’s wrong in putting your foot down and finally doing as you please?
Views expressed are the author’s own.
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