Awards
Zee Zest Unlimit Awards 2024: A spectacular evening of excellence and glamour
Mumbai: The much-anticipated Zee Zest Unlimit Awards 2024 concluded on 5 March at the opulent Taj Santacruz, marking a glorious celebration of innovation, talent, and excellence in the culinary, lifestyle and hospitality realms. With an electrifying atmosphere, the event showcased the crème de la crème of the industry, honoring their outstanding contributions and remarkable achievements.
The atmosphere was filled with anticipation and excitement as industry leaders, renowned chefs, esteemed restaurateurs, and distinguished personalities gathered for the event. The occasion boasted the presence of illustrious guests, such as Bollywood icons Bobby Deol, who received the Unlimit Performance of the Year award, Manoj Bajpayee, honored as the Iconic Artist, and Babil Khan, recognised as the Breakthrough Artist of the Year. Chitrangda Singh was featured as the digital cover star for February 2024. With their charismatic aura and impeccable style, these personalities elevated the evening, infusing it with a sense of grandeur and sophistication.
Speaking of the event, Zee Zest chief channel officer Amit Nair said, “We gathered at the Zee Zest Unlimit awards to celebrate the trailblazers who transformed ordinary moments into extraordinary experiences. The Zee Zest Unlimit Awards are a testament to the relentless pursuit of perfection and the boundless creativity that defines the fields of Cuisine, Travel and Culture. As we applaud the visionaries and the trendsetters, we hope to ignite a spark of inspiration among future stars.”
The success of The Zee Zest Unlimit Awards 2024 was made possible by key sponsors such as L’Oreal Paris Hyaluron Moisture (co-presenting sponsor) and Cadbury Dairy Milk (co-powered by), along with Dazller Cosmetics as the beauty partner and Hell Energy as the energy drink partner. Other vital partners included Thriwe as the Technology Facilitator, Taj Santacruz Mumbai as the Hospitality Partner, Novotel Mumbai International Airport as the Jury Meet Partner, and exclusive gifting experiences provided by Plum, Tidy Up, Ashnam, Callebaut, and Australian Macadamia Nuts as the Gifting Partners.
An esteemed panel renowned for their significant contributions to the industry meticulously assessed and scrutinized entries across every category, while consumers cast their votes for their preferred choices to determine the victors. The jury – a mix of culinary and beverage experts, authors and filmmakers, influencers, photographers, and music artists – evaluated the entries based on their understanding and expertise in the industry. Their discerning judgments ensured that only the most deserving establishments and individuals were honored at the prestigious Zee Zest Unlimit Awards 2024.
Among the distinguished winners were:
Best Japanese Restaurant: Mizu Izakaya, Mumbai
Best Progressive Indian Restaurant: Masque, Mumbai
Destination Dining: NAAR, Kasauli
Best Café: Cou Cou By Oberoi, Mumbai
Best Concept Restaurant: Ekaa, Mumbai
Best Restaurant in a 5 Star: Wasabi By Morimoto, Taj, Mumbai
Best New Restaurant: Lupa, Bengaluru
Best Asian Restaurant: Yi Jing, ITC Kohenur, Hyderabad
Best Regional Indian Restaurant: O Pedro, Mumbai
Legacy Restaurant (Luxe): Bukhara, ITC Maurya Delhi
Legacy Restaurant (Popular Choice): Chaitanya Assal Malvani Bhojangruh
Best Vegan Restaurant: Justbe By Nidhi Nahata, Bengaluru
Best Designed Restaurant: The Bagh Gourmet Garden and Bar, Amritsar
Best Indian Craft Beer: People’s Lager, Goa Brewing Co.
Best Indian Wine: The Source Sauvignon Blanc Reserve, 2023
Best Nightclub: antiSOCIAL, Mumbai
Best Cocktail Bar: Copitas, Bengaluru
Best Indian Craft Gin: Hapusa Himalayan Dry Gin
Best Indian Whisky: Amrut Fusion
Best Boutique Hotel: The Khyber Himalayan Resort and Spa
Best Sustainable Resort: Brij Lakshman Sagar, Pali
Best Wellness Resort: Raffles Udaipur
Best Wildlife Resort: Tipai by Wildlife Luxuries India, Tipeshwar
Hotel Brand of the Year: ITC Hotels
In addition to these remarkable establishments, the Zee Zest Unlimit Awards also recognised individuals who have left an indelible mark on the industry:
The Unlimit Icon: Jiggs Kalra
The Unlimit Icon: Floyd Cardoz
Best Mixologist: Varun Sharma
Best Expat Chef In India: Bawmra Jap
Best Indian Chef Working Internationally: Chintan Kiran Pandya
Chef Of The Year: Regi Mathew
Iconic Artist: Manoj Bajpayee
Breakthrough Artist of the Year: Babil Khan
Unlimit Performance of the year: Bobby Deol
The Zee Zest Unlimit Awards 2024 not only celebrated excellence but also served as a platform to inspire and motivate the next generation of culinary and hospitality professionals. As the industry continues to evolve, these awards stand as a testament to its resilience, creativity, and unwavering commitment to pushing boundaries and setting new standards of excellence.
The show will be telecast on 30 March 2024 at 9 pm on Zee Zest, Zee Zest HD and 31 March 2024 9:00 pm on Zee Café, and will be available to stream on zeezest.com.
Watch the glimpses from the evening: https://zeezest.com/food/zee-zest-unlimit-awards-2024-sees-winners-all-around-some-expected-and-some-surprises-5615
Awards
Ajay Kakar to chair jury for ad:tech Honours Awards 2026
Industry leaders join jury as nominations surge for marketing tech awards
NEW DELHI: The ad:tech Honours Awards 2026 are gearing up for a bigger second edition, with Ajay Kakar, head of corporate branding at Adani Group, set to chair the jury for India’s technology-focused marketing awards.
Organised in partnership with the International Advertising Association India Chapter, the awards celebrate the growing influence of technology in shaping modern advertising and marketing outcomes. This year’s edition has drawn a strong response from across the industry, signalling rising momentum around innovation in marketing technology.
The organisers say the nominations reflect a wide range of ideas and approaches, highlighting how brands and agencies are increasingly leaning on platforms, tools and data to sharpen their campaigns and connect with audiences more effectively.
Leading the evaluation process, Kakar will head a jury made up of senior leaders from across brands, agencies and technology platforms.
The jury panel includes Amaresh Godbole, CEO, digital technology business at Publicis Groupe; Bishwajeet S, head of marketing and PR at Volkswagen India; Carol Goyal, executive director at Rediffusion and CEO of Aesthetic Intelligence Lab; Kushal Sanghvi, director at Komerz; Lara Balsara, executive director at Madison World; Rana Barua, group CEO India, sea and North Asia; Deepak Oram, senior vice president growth marketing and martech; and Priyanka Khaneja Gandhi, head of marketing and creative solutions at Amazon Ads India.
The ad:tech Honours Awards aim to recognise not just creative campaigns but the smart use of technology that delivers measurable impact and business results. Categories this year reflect the rapidly evolving digital landscape, covering areas such as artificial intelligence, data-driven marketing, content ecosystems, automation, martech and adtech integration, and commerce-led marketing.
The winners will be announced on 17 March 2026 at the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in New Delhi during ad:tech New Delhi 2026. The event is expected to bring together leaders from brands, agencies, platforms, creators and technology partners for an evening celebrating the ideas and innovations shaping the future of marketing.iconductor industries.
