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Zee Theatre stars share the professional and personal triumphs of 2022
Mumbai: This year, the entertainment industry shed the dejection imposed by pandemic-related restrictions and began to regain its dynamism. As 2022 winds to a close, Zee Theatre luminaries recount the highpoints of the year gone by in the personal as well as professional arenas.
Karan Veer Mehra, who stars in Lights Out, says, “2022 has been a mixed bag because the first half kept me busy with work and the second half brought with it a lot of family time in Delhi with my near and dear ones. The highpoint was, of course, the birth of my sister’s beautiful baby boy. I wish everyone a safe, merry, and joyous 2023 and hope it will bring many wonderful gifts with it.”
Sahitya Akademi Award-winning playwright and director Mahesh Dattani, whose play Final Solutions has enjoyed wide viewership, says 2022 was a year of travel with trips to the USA and Bali. He adds, “This was also a year when I began in-person rehearsals and classes after the pandemic. I got over my caveman syndrome and actually stepped out into the world! My resolution for 2023 is to just do my thing and respect others when they do their thing! And I want to stay healthy and alive, not just in terms of mortality, but alive to my senses and retain my passion for life and art.”
Dilnaz Irani, who stars in Shireen Shah, shares, “This year, I shot for two films, opened two new plays, did an interesting sitcom, a cameo in a web series, and a few ads. I’m also doing a Tamil web series, which was a very different experience for me, so professionally I couldn’t have asked for a better, more fulfilling year. I also got to travel abroad to meet family members, so even personally, life has been great.
As for resolutions, I hate setting goals as they take away from the freedom to discover life as it unfolds. So, my resolution is not to have any! I just want to live in the now, have fun, and be grateful. I wish everyone the same, along with a lot of happiness.”
Manoj Pahwa, who narrates Saadat Hasan Manto’s classic story Toba Tek Singh in Zee Theatre’s anthology Koi Baat Chale, says, “There is no certain calculation that can calibrate the year gone by, although I am grateful for the work that I was able to do this year. I am also grateful for my family and friends, who have supported me in my endeavours this year and always. My son got married in 2022, so that was a very precious moment for the entire family. As for goals, I have never believed in restricting myself to a certain list of things. I just go with the flow and have never been dismissive of the work that has come my way.”
About Koi Baat Chale, he says, “It was a wonderful and challenging experience as one had to do justice to the essence of the story, and I am glad that the audience response has been so positive.”
Actor Pawan Chopra, who stars in The Will, adds, “2022 was a period of introspection and rediscovering yourself. It was also spent remembering the huge personal loss of many close friends and my mother, who was the inspiring force behind my acting journey. This year, I also paused a little after 20 years of working nonstop. 2022 was also about reinvention and taking lessons from nature’s fury; covid-19 taught us that anything can happen at any time. Life can’t be taken for granted, so your body, mind, and soul have to be prioritised.”
In 2023, the actor wants to do work that will even surprise and challenge him. He concludes, “I am waiting with open arms to embrace 2023 and feel it will be the best year for everyone.”
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.
