News Headline
‘RockStar: INXS’ to debut on Star World on 12 July
MUMBAI: Mark Burnett’s reality show RockStar: INXS is all set to debut on Star World on 12 July at 9 pm.
The show will feature 15 aspiring musicians and two hosts with the aim to find the next rock and roll superstar who will become the lead singer for the world famous rock band, INXS!
With seven men and eight women competing for the coveted spot as INXS foreperson, Rock Star: INXS chronicles the trials and tribulations of being in the spotlight.
INXS members – Andrew, Tim and Jon Farriss, Kirk Pengilly and Garry Beers – will work with leading entertainment industry specialists to assess singers as they undertake a series of comprehensive workshops covering everything from songwriting and performance to image and production – all aspects of what it takes to be a Rock Star.
Australian rock group INXS is no stranger to fame and success. The release of INXS’s debut album in 1980 paved the way for their status in the music world as that of legends, one that they sustained throughout their career.
With over 30 million records sold worldwide and more than 4,000 concert performances, INXS established themselves as the gods of modern rock. The band has achieved worldwide fame with its music and is now aiming to reestablish itself with new talent. After the death of lead singer Michael Hutchence in November 1997, INXS continued to record and perform using singers such as Terence Trent D’Arby and Jon Stewart as vocalists. The band is now looking for a lead singer to be a permanent figure in the wonder that is INXS.
Rock Star: INXS promises to be a reality show unlike any other. Created by reality-television mogul Mark Burnett, the show aims to find raw talent and fuse it with music greats for a mix that is truly legendary rock.
“RockStar shows you the behind-the-scenes of the contestants living in a Hollywood Hills mansion overlooking the Hollywood sign and living the life of a rock star, as well as the performances. All of these applicants who are on the show can play music, read music and write music, so it is a whole new level of talent. It is great to win $1 million on a show but to get the job of a true rock star opening at big stadiums is like a total inspirational dream,” says Burnett.
In 13 weeks, RockStar: INXS will show how these contestants fight to survive in a competition based on pure talent. The gifted aspirants come from different walks of life (including a nanny, a legal secretary and a bartender) with one thing in common – a passion for music.
Hosted by guitarist Dave Navarro and television personality Brooke Burke, RockStar: INXS will narrow down the list of aspirants to one final winner who will be INXS’s new lead singer and will tour with the band at venues across the world. Auditions were held around the world this year in cities including New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, London, Liverpool, New Orleans, Auckland and Sydney. The final fifteen hail from the US, Canada and England.
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.
