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MTV ‘Roadies 3’ to kick off auditions on 24 May
MUMBAI: MTV is all set to roll out the Roadies -3, which is loosely based on MTV US’ hit reality show Road Rules.
The casting is not formulaic this time. The channel is not scouting for seven, but for 13 adventurous youth. The auditions will roll out from 24 May onwards and it would be held in Pune, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chandigarh and Mumbai.
MTV Hero Honda Roadies 3 will flag off from Jaisalmer on 13 June and work their way through Rajasthan, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh winding up in Leh on 20 July.
According to an official release from MTV, with every journey, one of 13- Roadies will be voted out, heightening the tension between them.
MTV India managing director Alex Kuruvilla adds, “MTV shows again how reality television is really done. These young people are put through unpredictable tests of endurance, all the time being expected to lean on the very people they are competing against. By the end of it, there’ll be a lot of blood, sweat and tears but isn’t that what reality is all about?”
Hero Honda Motors Ltd. executive director-business operations Atul Sobti adds, “Hero Honda has had a wonderful relationship with MTV since the last two years. Karizma epitomizes power, styling and spirit of adventure. We see a perfect synergy between Karizma and MTV Roadies since both are a representation of speed, thrill and courage”.
The 13 adventurers will begin the ride across 2000 kilometres in 25 days on Indian premium sports bikes, the Hero Honda Karizma.
The media release adds that apart from the gruelling journey and almost complete isolation from their friends and family, there will be various “tasks” along the way, testing their endurance, energy and patience while educating them about their country and its people and giving them a chance to win prizes.
The option of leaving the journey is open at any point of time, but every Roadie who makes it to the end will win big. The final seven Roadies will win a 223cc Hero Honda Karizma bike and the last Roadie standing will win a cash prize of Rs. 5,00,000.
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.
