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Mumbaikars experience ‘Who Dares Wins’ buzz
MUMBAI: AXN has unveiled its first local production effort in the country. The Who Dares Wins India Special kicked off in Mumbai Thursday and will travel to Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore and Chennai shortly.
Addressing a media briefing, AXN Asia’s VP marketing Gregory Ho said, “AXN is all about putting the thrill into peoples lives and we are also trying to build a lifestyle brand. Who Dares Wins has been on the channel since its inception in Asia in 1997, and India the following year. In fact, there was a point when people identified the channel with the show which is not surpring as the show represents the values that AXN stands for which are to have fun and be daring in whatever we do. The fact that over 600 Indians applied for the Guinness World Records challenges the notion that Indians are physically inert by nature. They do not like to go out too much.
In its pure form, reality television is a documentary. At the other extreme, you have a pornographic video and we are somewhere in between. What makes Who Dares Wins unique is the level of humour prevalent. We have chosen India as the country make our foray into local production because we see it as the rising star in terms of building the brand and revenue.”
It was not all talk at the Mumbai launch, however. The host of the show, Mike Whitney chose a couple of press members to do a couple of street dares – simple to follow but difficult to actually perform. The first involved moving a glass on a tray around the body without dropping it. The second had a person going around ten times with a broomstick held over her head and then attempting to drop it in front of her before crossing over.
From Saturday to Monday, Whitney will travel the city challenging people to do things they are not sure of. One dare will involve Hero Honda cycles, says Whitney. He will visit Dilip Vengsarkar’s cricket academy and have a person face fast bowlers. He will also approach shoppers at Crossroads, students at Dadar Catering College and dare them to do things like catching a grape in the mouth thrown from five metres. The dares will be showcased on the channel in November/ December 2002.
Whitney said, ” I have been to India thrice in the past. On two occasions I was with the Australian cricket team. This visit is special as for the first time I will be able to interact directly with the public. Our aim is to take people out of their comfort zone and expose them to something they are not comfortable with. It could be standing in a room full of mice. The safety issue was foremost in our mind when we started seven years ago and that continues to be our philosophy.
“Nothing on the show is a death defying leap of faith. The conditions have been tried and tested sometimes a couple of weeks in advance to make sure that the dare is do able,” he said.
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.
