GECs
Zee dazzles Dubai with cine extravaganza
DUBAI: Dubai denizens were blown away. In one of the best film awards in recent memory, the Pan Parag 7th Zee Cine Awards held in Dubai last night had the more than 7,600 strong audience in Dubai Media City meserised and awake, hungering for more way past 1 am.
The awards ceremony which brought Indian and Pakistani artistes together on stage had the right sense of national bonding, was high on action and had oodles of humour thrown in.
It began with host Jaaved Jaaferi unveiled, doing a headstand. It set the tone for the evening : it was going to be a different awards. Jaaferi sparkled, buoyed by a fabulous script from Kiran Kotriyal, the best in the business. Karan Johar in a new avatar as a host along with the bubbly Juhi Chawla, who broke into song and her vocal act would have done even an Alka Yagnik proud, was par excellence. Salman Khan, who came and auctioned a Zee Cine Award for a cool 450,000 dirhams, raising money for a home for the aged in Mumbai, India.
His appeal that children should look after their aged parents, played on Dubai’s elite and they opened their purses willingly. Pakistan stand up comic Omar Shariff first on his own, and then later with India’s Shekhar Suman had the audience rolling in the aisles with his tremendously punny and funny one liners. Another highlight for attendees was the joint performance for the finale on stage by Hrithik Roshan, Shah Rukh Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Preity Zinta, Juhi Chawla, Lara Dutta. They were all dancing for Yash ‘Tom’ Johar who got the Lifetime Achievement Award.
One act to kill for was Jaaved Jaaferi’s take off on Gujarati choreographer Kamlesh Patel’s view of the contribution that various actors’ dancing styles have made to society.
Dubai viewers today will not be able to forget Shah Rukh Khan’s audience involving act when he called on stage four fans to dance with him. Neeru, Natasha Puri and two Dubai-ites handled themselves gracefully with the Khan and were the envy of all present.
The show’s highlight was the camaraderie that the film artistes from India and Pakistan displayed. “We hope that the two film industries can work together to build harmonious relations between the two nations,” quipped almost every artiste.
To catch the action, tune into Zee TV tonight at 8.30 pm.
GECs
Asianet Television Awards 2026 celebrates women power in Malayalam TV
“She is the Colour” theme honours icons as ceremony airs on March 14 and 15 at 7 PM.
MUMBAI: If television lights up living rooms, this year Asianet decided to let women provide the colour. The Asianet Television Awards 2026 turned the spotlight firmly on women empowerment with the theme “She is the Colour”, celebrating the strength, resilience and achievements of women who continue to shape society and the Malayalam entertainment industry.
The ceremony honoured several distinguished personalities whose journeys have left a lasting cultural imprint. Among them was legendary playback singer Vimala Varma, widely recognised as the first Malayalam playback singer. The evening also paid tribute to Padma Shri awardees Devaki Amma and Vimala Menon for their exceptional contributions in their respective fields.
Leading women from the Malayalam film industry were also recognised during the event, including actor Shweta Menon, who currently serves as president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists, and National Award winning actor Surabhi Lakshmi.
The awards ceremony brought together a glittering lineup of actors and industry figures, including Jayasurya, Vijay Babu, Asha Sarath, Lena, Esther Anil, Anumol, Akhila Bhargavan, Sarayu Mohan, Prajod Kalabhavan, Gayathri Suresh, Sabumon Abdusamad, Swasika, Tini Tom, Sijoy Varghese, Kailash, Veena Nandakumar, Sabareesh Varma, Ansiba Hassan and Dinesh Prabhakar. Kishan Kumar, executive vice president Malayalam at JioStar, was also present at the event.
Beyond individual recognitions, the awards celebrated excellence across Malayalam television, acknowledging artists and technicians whose work continues to drive the industry forward.
The evening also offered plenty of spectacle, with elaborate dance performances, stunt acts and comedy skits performed by popular television and film personalities, turning the ceremony into a full fledged entertainment showcase.
Viewers will get to watch the celebrations when the Asianet Television Awards 2026 air on Asianet on March 14 and 15, Saturday and Sunday, from 7 pm onwards, bringing the star studded tribute to homes across Kerala and beyond.
