Directed by Madhur Bhandarkar and led by Priyanka Chopra in one of her most defining performances, the film peeled back the layers of glamour to reveal vulnerability, ambition, breakdowns, and breakthroughs.
More than a cautionary tale, Fashion gave us a complex woman’s journey—one that didn’t need a male savior, didn’t apologize for ambition, and didn’t tie itself up with a neat bow.
Fast forward to 2025, and Fashion feels both a product of its time and stunningly ahead of it. As Hindi cinema continues to evolve into a more inclusive and self-aware space, it's worth revisiting how Priyanka Chopra’s Meghna Mathur helped open the doors for the female-centric storytelling we’re seeing today.
Why Fashion Was a Game-Changer
At a time when most mainstream films revolved around male protagonists, Fashion dared to center a flawed, ambitious, and emotionally raw woman. Meghna’s arc wasn’t about being likeable—it was about being real.
She wasn’t perfect: Meghna was proud, impulsive, and at times unlikeable. But her humanity made her powerful.
The female gaze ruled: The film wasn’t about how women were seen—it was about how women saw themselves.
No “hero” in sight: There was no love interest who swooped in to fix her. Her biggest rescuer? Herself.
Priyanka’s National Award-winning performance gave the role a depth that was rarely seen in female-led films of that era. And in many ways, Fashion set a new benchmark—both for the industry and for female actors who wanted more than decorative roles.
Priyanka Chopra and the Archetype Shift
Priyanka didn’t just act in Fashion—she embodied the shift it represented. She played Meghna at her rawest: breaking down in a bathroom stall, walking out of a photoshoot mid-panic attack, rebuilding her career from scratch. It was a far cry from the hyper-glossy roles most heroines were reduced to at the time.
Her career since then—spanning Mary Kom, Barfi!, and even global projects like Quantico—mirrors that same refusal to be boxed in. In many ways, Fashion was her artistic thesis: women can be central, complex, messy, and magnetic—and still be celebrated.
Rewatching Fashion today isn’t just an exercise in nostalgia—it’s a reminder. Of how far Bollywood has come, and how one role, one film, and one actor helped pivot an industry toward more courageous storytelling.