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Zoom’s ‘Red Hot List’ to cover 10 categories
MUMBAI: In tune with the latest international celebrity trends, lifestyle and entertainment channel Zoom has kicked off a series of Red Hot Countdown activities.
The ten categories that the channel would cover include Most Desirable Women, Most Desirable Men, Most Wanted TV Stars and Most Popular TV Couples.
Zoom has already unveiled the first of the series which selected the most desirable women alive in India. Among the final 25 most desirable women chosen, Bollywood actresses made it to the top five with Bipasha Basu winning the title. Aishwarya Rai, was second and Priyanka Chopra was voted third.
Zoom has already completed its selection process through online voting (via indiatimes.com), which was later collated with the verdict of a six-member celebrity & media jury.
The channel presently telecasts archival footage and interesting trivia of the celebrities through a voice over driven show, and thereby sets the ground for viewers to express their opinion. Viewers in turn can SMS their votes to 8888 and will be rewarded if their choice matches the jury’s selection.
The next in the line, a search for the Most Desirable Man, will be held on 21 and 22 January. Irfan Pathan, Omar Abdullah, Abhishek Bachchan, John Abraham, Hrithik Roshan, Shahrukh Khan, Kay Kay Menon, Rahul Gandhi, Saif Ali Khan and Rahul Dravid are amongst the top 50 wannabees.
According to Zoom programming head Aparna Pande, the channel has taken up the property as an annual feature. Zoom COO Upen Roop Rai speaks about the initiative, “With the Red Hot Countdown, that debuts this year on Zoom, we are reiterating our position. The validity of the countdown is bound to be accepted, since it has been compiled by the czars in the film industry as well as media and most importantly the Indian audience.”
Schedule for the contests coming up:
1. Most Desirable Men (21 & 22 January)
2. Most Wanted TV Stars (28 January)
3. Most Popular TV Couples (29 January)
4. Most Fashionable (4 February)
5. Generation Next (5 February)
6. Most Wanted Vamps and Villains (11 February)
7. Most Beautiful Couples (12 February)
The Red Hot Countdown series will be telecast Saturday & Sunday at 7:30 pm till mid- February and will be repeated every Tuesday (today onwards) at 9 pm.
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.
