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Journalism of Courage
A UFO, gun shots, fireworks, and the golden lady. The 10th Asian Paints Annual Star Screen Weekly Awards had the sprinkle of stardust, the dash of style and the aura of mystery. The red carpet entries, backstage murmurs and onstage entertainment were total paisa vasool for spectators who thronged the sides of Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai.
Hrithik Roshan took the golden statuette for his braveheart act in Koi… Mil Gaya, dedicating it to ‘‘little children like Rohit’’. In fact, it was a Roshan sweep as they bagged five shining statuettes, including the Best Film and Best Director trophies for dad Rakesh. The Kodak moment for the night took place when Koi…’s gang of child artistes rushed to the stage as Rakesh and Hrithik won.
In contrast, Urmila Matondkar — who grabbed Best Actress for her spine-chilling act in Bhoot — gave a bow to horror. The lady in red, and lady of the evening, quipped, ‘‘I think I’m the first actress thanking God as well as a bhoot for this award.’’
The night was touched with magical stage moments like Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini accepting the Star Jodi No 1 for their old-but-very-much-in-love couple play in Ravi Chopra’s Baghbaan. The Big B joked that his wife Jaya had refused to accept she wasn’t part of this star jodi and so skipped the ceremony. ‘‘I thank Star Screen for conceiving this domestic trouble,’’ he said, sotto voce. The other moment daubed with nostalgia was when Rajesh Khanna received the honour for lifetime achievement, from his Aap Ki Kasam co-star Mumtaz.
Saif Ali Khan and Juhi Chawla won for their supporting acts in Kal Ho Naa Ho and 3 Deewarein. Backstage, Saif’s good friends and his presenters Kajol and Pooja Bhatt waved the niceties away. ‘‘We are going to act as if we are the queens. Come to us,’’ giggled the irrepressible Kajol.
It reflected the bonhomie, the celebration that burst through the night like the shiny fireworks finale.
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