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TLC gung-ho about Aalim’s Bollywood hair style show; more Indian originals coming up
MUMBAI: Discovery Communications’ lifestyle channel – TLC, armed with consumer feedback and international research, is back with the second season of “Style Inc. with Aalim Hakim.” With a reach of over 70-80 million households in India, the lifestyle channel is attempting to give viewers another peek at what is the latest in terms of hair styling in India.
The series will provide a gateway to the life of Bollywood’s new male brigade from 20 October every Thursday-Friday at 10 pm. The repeat telecast will be on Saturday-Sunday at 6 pm on TLC and TLC HD World.
The second season of the series has heart throbs Ranveer Singh, Arjun Kapoor, Varun Dhawan, Siddharth Malhotra, Aditya Roy Kapur, Ayushmann Khurrana, Tiger Shroff and Sanjay Dutt opening themselves up to Aalim. Viewers can watch Aalim transform their favourite stars for movies, photo shoots and ad films, as well showcase the unique relationship they share with Bollywood’s go-to stylist.
The six-episode show has roped in FitBit and Usha International as advertisers on board so far, and talks are on with a few more brands.
“TLC is a unique, standalone channel. It can’t be compared with any other channel. We have always tried to capture the trend of the country. Once, travel was a trend and then grooming was, and makeover used to be; now styling is in vogue. We believe that the audience is looking for content on beauty and style right now. We want to invest in this genre which is unique,” said Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific vice president, female and family entertainment products, south Asia Rajiv Bakshi.
He further stated that, “We are overwhelmed with the tremendous response the series has received on social platforms. Style is the new buzzword, and no one does it better than the new generation of Bollywood actors. The kind of Bollywood stars who would be appearing on the show can offer tips about maintaining one’s hair. It is a layered show, and not a straightforward one.”
Depending on the success of this season, the team will explore further possibilities. “We want to build a franchise,” added Bakshi.
Hakim added, “It is so exciting to witness this shift in India towards styling and grooming. I am super-charged to be doing the second season of “Style Inc. with TLC.” Fans will get to see Bollywood’s youngest and most stylish stars and get to know their style mantras.”
Targeted at the young millennials in the 15-35 age-group across India – who have a deep interest in styling but don’t know where to get it done from – the show will tell them the difference between a good and a bad haircut. “We are certainly targeting urban India. From the south, Bangalore is a very important market for us, and Hyderabad too has a good viewership. There is enough appetite in the north and the south,” voiced Bakshi.
The channel is launching eight to 10 shows in the next three months based on the genres of dating, relationship, food, travel, and a couple of series coming in from India.
Bakshi stressed that TLC is not limiting itself to a particular show genre. “We have always tried to do something more than what the audience demands. The approach of what they would want to watch which could be unknown to them is what we want to capture.”
With a countable number of channels in this space, Bakshi opined that there was enough place for new players.
“It is an attractive and feasible genre, and the market is dynamic. Certainly, as a market, it can obviously take more channels. The passion towards a certain kind of TV will overtake passion towards traditional TV. And, we believe, lifestyle is one of the areas of interest,” Bakshi concluded.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
