News Broadcasting
‘Lakme Fashion House’ to launch on Star One
NEW DELHI: The latest to join the reality TV bandwagon is Star One. Early next year, it will unveil a show, christened Lakme Fashion House, which is, of course, tailored to suit the brand image being propagated by the channel that of catering to the upmarket youth in the age group of 15-34.
What adds zing to the show is that the winner, who has to be a budding fashion designer, gets to do a six-month stint with the Italian fashion powerhouse Versace; all expenses paid by the organisers of the show.
This one-hour show would have 12-15 aspiring designers giving flight to their fancies and creativity. The final products will be modeled by a group of celebrities to add some pizzazz to the whole proceedings. The whole process is likely to take slightly over two months.
The winning creation would be branded by Versace as part of a marketing initiative.
The show is being brought to India by Star after it had a hugely successful run two years back on Sky Italia, another News Corporation-controlled TV channel in Europe. Even the Versace angle is part of an international agreement that News Corporation and the game show format owners, FCB, have with the fashion house.
Considering Versace and his creations are well known in India now, courtesy proliferation of Fashion TV, the reality show is likely to create a buzz not only among participants, but also viewers, mostly comprising the P3-types.
Star India COO Sameer Nair denied that this reality programme has anything to do with taking on Times group-controlled Zoom, which thrives on glamour-based shows, and said, Since Star is the pioneer of reality shows in India (starting with the hunt for Viva through Popstars), Lakme Fashion House is another initiative to bring innovative shows. This one was very popular on Sky Italia and we think would be here in India too.
On Sky Italia, the shows presenting sponsor was Nokia.
The entries for this reality show would start flooding the market soon and the show itself will culminate to coincide with the annual Lakme Fashion Week held in April-May.
News Broadcasting
Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
