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MTV Lycra held with style and humour
MUMBAI: “This is a fun award and I accept it with humour.” The Maha Style Icon of the MTV Lycra Awards, Amitabh Bachchan summed up the spirit of the awards function in his trademark baritone.
Held at Jamshed Bhabha Auditorium in Mumbai on 17 October, MTV’s first style awards was all about style, attitude and more.
MTV Lycra Awards started off with the red carpet roll out – albeit a mini version – with hooting and cat calls greeting the invitees who were dresses in their best. But who could compete with columnist Shobhaa De in her bright blue-green sari and Fardeen Khan in his designer denim outfit!
As for the in-house styles, VJs Anusha and Ramona dressed in Aki Narula’s creation, Sophiya’s golden Rocky S outfit and Shehnaz’s Indian outfit looked chic.
It was Rohit Bal’s all-white collection that set the mood for the show. With Trilok Gurtu providing the music and Roop Kumar Rathod the vocals, the show gradually picked up the beat.
What really set the humour rolling was the Elvis Presley sighting – VJ Cyrus Broacha dressed up as the rock-‘n-roll legend along with leggy VJ Malaika Arora Khan was at his best.
Then came cricket commentator Navjot Singh Sidhu to present the awards to Anshu Arora who was crowned the best breakthrough artist of the year, along with a bunch full of Sidhuism.
Unaware of what to do with the iron shaped awards trophy given to him, he guffawed that he was “as confused as a baby in a topless bar”.
With innumerable dress changes, as Gabbar and Basanti (of Sholey), doctor and slutty nurse, or solo acts like Sachin and Ferrari, Daler Mehndi, Broacha and Arora Khan had the audience in splits.
Boasting of over 11,000 votes received from the local junta, the Lycra awards saw the likes of Vijay Mallya, Fardeen Khan, Feroze Khan, Sameera Reddy, Kim Jagtiani, Sonali Kulkarni, Anil Ambani with wife Tina Ambani, Mandira Bedi with hubby Raj Kaushal, Simone Singh, Abhishek Bachchan, Jackie Shroff, Arjun Rampal… The list is endless.
A list of the award:
| Category | Award | Recipient |
| Popular | Most Stylish Person in Music Male | Sonu Nigam |
| Most Stylish Person in Music Female | Alisha Chinoy | |
| Most Stylish Person in Film Male | Fardeen Khan | |
| Most Stylish Person in Film Female | Bipasha Basu | |
| Most Stylish Person on TV Male | Shekhar Suman | |
| Most Stylish Person on TV Female | Mandira Bedi | |
| Most Stylish Person in Sports | Leander Peas | |
| Technical | Most Stylish Person on Ramp Male | Aditya Bal |
| Most Stylish Person on Ramp Female | Nina Manuel | |
| Breakthrough Designer of the Year | Anshu Arora | |
| Fashion Photographer of the Year | Farrokh Chothia | |
| Fashion Designer of the Year | Sabyasachi Mukherji | |
| Bollywood designer of the Year | Manish Malhotra | |
| Honors | Most Stylish Person in Politics | Jyotiraditya Scindia |
| Most Stylish Person in Business Male | Dr Vijay Mallya | |
| Most Stylish Person in Business Female | Sulajja Firodia Motwani | |
| Maha Style Icon (Lifetime achievement award) | Amitabh Bachchan |
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.
