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AXN bringing Mike Whitney down for ‘Who Dares Wins’ special
MUMBAI: Hot on the heels of the successful Guinness World Records initiative held in the country a few months ago action oriented AXN is continuing to expand its ground presence this time through the programming franchise Who Dares Wins.
AXN Who Dares Wins – India Special marks the first-ever local production and programming effort on the part of the channel in India to let people experience the buzz first hand. It is based on the highly popular reality television series Who Dares Wins, which challenges ordinary people to participate in dares in front of a large crowd. The production effort will take off on a five city tour of Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore and Chennai from 18 September to 7 October, an official release informs.
The show will be hosted by former Australian test cricketer – Mike Whitney. He will approach Indians at home, work, on the streets or at shopping malls and dare them to attempt certain stunts, which will be televised for the show. This will be telecast on the channel in November. In addition, AXN is also giving six Indians the opportunity of going on an all expenses paid trip to Australia to participate in the Who Dares Wins main dares. These will be hosted by Mike Whitney and his co-host Tania Zaetta.
The channel, in association with Colgate-Palmolive, is also holding a contest wherein the purchase of Palmolive shaving gel entitles the viewer to and get access to an application form to nominate a person to participate in the major dares segment of the AXN Who Dares Wins – India Special.
V-P marketing AXN Asia Gregory Ho was quoted in the release as saying: “The AXN Who Dares Wins – India Special, based on one of AXN’s signature shows Who Dares Wins, is one of the biggest initiatives that the channel has embarked on to date, and we have decided to do it first in India. AXN pioneered reality TV in India over three years ago with Who Dares Wins, which has since become television icon and continues to remain high on Indians’ TV viewing priorities.”
Since the first broadcast, Indians have gotten a kick out of seeing Mike and Tania challenge ordinary people to perform dares that they wouldn’t normally do. I am sure Mike and the Who Dares Wins – India Special crew will be overwhelmed by the popularity of the series in India.”
For AXN’s first local production effort, both international and local expertise will be used to ensure the quality of the production is on par with the broadcast standards that viewers have come to expect on AXN. The AXN Who Dares Wins – India Special is presented by Hero Honda, and co-sponsored by Samsung, Perfetti, Palmolive Shave Gel and Bharti (Airtel). The India Special is also supported by Adidas and The Park Hotels, the release says.
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.
