The Comeback Queens of Their Time

A story of revival, relevance, and radiance

Lt Col Ankit Sharma
In a world obsessed with reinvention, some comebacks are more than trends – they’re testaments to resilience. Meet the two unlikely but now unforgettable protagonists of this renaissance: Millets, the ancient grains once dismissed as “poor man’s food,” and Zeenat Aman, the glamorous icon who defied Bollywood’s conservative norms and is now reinventing digital stardom in her 70s.
Separated by category, united by spirit – this is their story.
The Past: Glorious, Forgotten and Misunderstood
Millets: Ancient Grains of India
Cultivated since the Indus Valley Civilization, millets such as ragi, bajra, jowar, and foxtail were staples across Indian kitchens for centuries.Ancient texts like the Yajurveda mention millets, and they were known to sustain warriors and farmers alike.But with the Green Revolution in the 1960s-70s, millets lost their place to wheat and rice – crops seen as more ‘modern’ and yielding.Millets were deemed “coarse grains” – nutritious, but not glamorous.
Zeenat Aman: Ahead of Her Time
When Zeenat entered Bollywood in the early ’70s, the screen was dominated by sari-clad, shy heroines. Then came Zeenat, the Miss Asia Pacific winner, in bell bottoms and bold roles.She brought western influence, confidence, and a new archetype of femininity.Critics dismissed her as “just a glam doll.” But her performances in films like Don, Dharam Veer, Satyam Shivam Sundaram, and Roti Kapda Aur Makaan revealed depth, vulnerability, and courage.
Struggles: From Stardom to Side-lines
Millet’s: The Grain That Faded
For decades, millet’s became synonymous with rural poverty.Government policies, food subsidies, and advertising promoted rice and wheat – leaving millet’s with almost no representation on the urban plate.Urban India turned its back, despite millet’s being more suited to Indian soil and climate.
Zeenat: The Actress Misunderstood
Despite massive stardom, Zeenat was often pigeonholed. She wasn’t considered the “ideal Indian woman” onscreen.Personal setbacks, a toxic marriage, media scrutiny, and ageism in Bollywood led to her gradual disappearance from the limelight.
Hero to Zero: When the Spotlight Dimmed
Both Zeenat and millet’s faced a similar fate:
Ignored in conversations of relevance.
Reduced to stereotypes.
Erased from aspirational narratives – millet’s were “poor food,” Zeenat was “past her prime.”
But the thing about true stars is – they don’t disappear. They wait for their moment.
The Comeback: A Peak Reclaimed
Millet’s: The Global Super-food
Designated as “Shree Anna” by India and celebrated by the UN in the International Year of Millet’s (2023).Backed by the Indian government’s millet mission.Champions include celebrities, chefs, and nutritionists.
Millets now star in everything from biryani’s to brownies, from toddler foods to sports diets.
Zeenat Aman: The Instagram Icon
In 2023, Zeenat Aman stunned fans by joining Instagram – writing in her own voice, no ghostwriters, no filters.Her posts went viral – reflecting on love, loneliness, ageing, sexism, and cinema with rare honesty.She became the face of authenticity in a curated, filtered world.Fashion labels started booking her again. Millennials and Gen Z discovered her charisma. She became cool again – without ever trying to be.
Lessons from the Revival
Zeenat Aman
Don’t chase youth – own your age. Grace is timeless.
Use new tools – social media, storytelling, rebranding.
Be proud of your journey – the scars tell your story.
Millets
Don’t follow trends – stay rooted. Trends will come back to you.
Adapt to modern times – millet pasta, dosa, desserts.
Be proud of your identity – local can be global.
Don’t wait for validation – nutrition speaks for itself.
They both teach us: Don’t reinvent yourself to fit the world – let the world evolve to rediscover your value.
Zeenat Aman Should Be the Brand Ambassador of Millet’s
Think about it.She embodies the same journey – from cultural icon to forgotten figure to modern marvel.She represents graceful ageing, just as millets represent time-tested nutrition.Both are low-maintenance, high-impact, beautiful in their simplicity and rich in substance.She can speak to youth about sustainability, mothers about health, and older women about confidence – all through the metaphor of food.Imagine a campaign:”Zeenat Aman: Still Golden, Like Millets.”Elegant. Natural. Resilient.
Conclusion
In the end, the revival ofMillets and Zeenat Aman isn’t just about nutrition or nostalgia – it’s about recognition. It’s about giving unfashionable wisdom its due. It’s about celebrating what lasts over what’s loud.
So go ahead:
Eat your ragi laddoos.
Follow Zeenat on Instagram.
Choose the honest over the hyped.
And remember – whether it’s grains or grace, true icons never fade. They just wait for the world to catch up.

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