Shabana Azmi on Zeenat Aman's fabulous 'second innings' on social media, says 'she is not trying to compete with a 24-year-old'

Veteran actresses Shabana Azmi (L) and Zeenat Aman (R)

The Indian film industry is witnessing a significant shift, as veteran actors make a comeback both on screen and in the public sphere. Leveraging social media platforms to engage with the modern audience has become essential. Recently, acclaimed actresses Zeenat Aman and Saira Banu joined Instagram, much to the delight of their fans, with Zeenat Aman's engagement rate reaching new heights everyday.

In an exclusive interview with India Today, Shabana Azmi stressed the importance of staying current and shared her perspective on Zeenat's successful Instagram debut. When asked about the necessity of maintaining visibility and relevance in an era where younger audiences might have a fleeting memory of yesteryears' stars, she concurred.

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Shabana Azmi shared "The fact is, people have a short memory, and youngsters don't remember any of the actors that we have admired. To remain relevant and visible is extremely important because you cannot bask in the glory of the past. You have to be doing something today, not necessarily a film, but something that brings a certain visibility."

She discussed the role of social media, adding, "But, I don't believe that, for the sake of visibility, you need to do things; your work needs to be of some significance. I am not a huge advocate of being on social media just for the sake of visibility, but if it comes organically, then why not? I do it to the point that is not beyond some credibility. Obviously, when my films are being released, I post something, but I don't go overboard with it."

On her contemporaries entering the social media realm, the 'Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani' actress said, "People like Zeenat who are being so loved on social media is because of what she is writing. It is not frivolous. She is not trying to compete with a 24-year-old. She is talking about the life she has lived and that is attractive. You are on social media, but you are not pandering to the world that is created on social media."

Zeenat Aman, as she mentions in her bio, is a 'maverick' in the truest sense of the word. The actress has been lauded for being ahead of her times by critics and audiences ever since her edgy roles in films like 'Satyam Shivam Sundaram.' In a superficial and fleeting social media world, Aman has emerged as a voice of poignance and sincerity. She is leveraging the platform to share stories about love, loss and lessons learnt from her richly lived life that resonate across generations. From partnering with Google to spread awareness about LGBTQIA+ rights to dispelling myths and rumours surrounding her life in innovative ways, Zeenat has become widely loved in her 'comeback' - fans say they'd line up for a memoir if she ever put pen to paper (and we're certainly one of them!)

Shabana Azmi, on the other hand, will next feature in 'Ghoomer', and has been invited as the Chief Guest for this year's Indian Film Festival of Melbourne.