The Zee Cine Awards rolled out the red carpet at Bandra Kurla Complex MMRDA ground. With the shadow of the pandemic having lifted, the mood was festive. "After a long time, such a celebration of cinema is happening,” said actor Gulshan Grover, putting the finger on the popular pulse as he walked into the venue.
Shahid Kapur was the earliest to arrive on the red carpet among the big names, dot at 8pm, on the heels of Brahmastra maker Ayan Mukerji. Accepting compliments for the success of his black comedy crime thriller Farzi, with which he has made his OTT debut, Shahid promised a second season and made his way in. Soon he made a crackling appearance, striking a pose in a box hanging high overhead, with crackers bursting from its outer corners. A contraption carried the box to the side of the stage and out jumped Shahid, hitting the stage dancing.
Anupam Kher met a bevy of beauties on the red carpet and was too happy to pose with them. He handed over his phone to a journalist to make a video clip as he spoke on the success of The Kashmir Files, a turn that would fetch him the Best Actor award on stage later in the evening.
The most jovial presence on the carpet was surely Boney Kapoor. The affable producer, who recently turned actor in Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar, spread his arms delighting photographers and quipped: "Yeh Shah Rukh nahin hua, na?", referring to King Khan's signature pose. "Yeh kapde bhaade ka nahin hai; rokda de ke kharida hai," he added of his brick-red outfit.
"Japnaam," the press photographers called out as Bobby Deol arrived, referring to his villaneous turn as a conniving godman in Ashram. He would get a trophy as Best Actor in a Negative Role later that evening for Love Hostel. He met Irrfan Khan's son Babil Khan on his way out with the latter's Best Debut trophy for Qala and hugged him warmly.
The quip of the evening came from singer Shilpa Rao. Asked to name which colour Besharam rang was, the crooner of the Pathaan hit responded: "The colour in your eyes."
The most emotional speech came from Maniesh Paul, the winner of Best Actor in a Comic Role in Jugjugg Jeeyo. He sought time from anchors Ayushmann Khurrana and Aparshakti Khurana to describe how it took him 15 years to cover the distance of 15 steps from lectern of the award show emcee to the centrestage as an awardee. Paul's co-actor in the film, Anil Kapoor, who received the Best Supporting Actor in the OTT category, recalled how tough it was to find an actress opposite him as most were turning down the offer till Neetu Kapoor agreed. "Those of you who are watching, you are refusing to act opposite the sexiest man alive," the evergreen hero announced, to cat-calls from the front-benchers in the audience.
The evening's richest booty was taken home by Alia Bhatt. The new mom had a song dedicated to her family sung live on stage by Ayushmann and Varun Dhawan- a parody of Kesariya, which ran "Ranbir ko itna bata de koi, Kaise Raha ko chup karwaaye koi..." She took home two trophies: Best Actor Female for Gangubai Kathiawadi and Viewers Choice Best Actor Female for Darlings. "I would have considered myself a really bad actor if I missed out on the Best Actor despite getting two nomi- nations," she said on stage, before rushing back home to daughter Raha and husband Ranbir.
Roll of Honor
Best Film of 2022: Brahmastra Part 1 (Shiva)
Best Actor (Female): Alia Bhatt (Gangubai Kathiawadi)
Best Actor (Male): Anupam Kher (Kashmir Files)
Viewers Choice Best Actor Female: Alia Bhatt (Darlings)
Viewers Choice Best Actor Male: Kartik Aaryan (Bhool Bhulaiya 2)
Viewers Choice Song of the Year: Kesariya
Viewers Choice Best Film: Kashmir Files
Best Actor in Comic Role: Manish Paul (Jug Jugg Jeeyo)
Best Technical Awards:
Setu for Laal Singh Chadha
Best Action: Attack-1
Best Production Design:
Gangubai Kathiawadi
Best Visual Effects: Brahmastra
Best Editing: Bhediya
Best Background Score: Bhediya
Best Sound Design: Bhediya Best Costume: Gangubai Kathiawadi
Best Dialogue: Gangubai Kathiawadi
Pride of Indian cinema award: S.S. Rajamouli
Best Story: Brahmastra
Best Debut Female: Rashmika Mandanna (Goodbye)
Best Debut Director: Jasmeet K. Reen (Darlings)
Best Debut Male: Babil Khan (Qala)
Best Playback Singer Female:
Kavita Seth (Rangisaari)
Best Playback Singer Male: Arijit
Singh (Kesariya)
Best Lyrics Amitabh
Bhattacharya (Kesariya)
Best Music: Pritam (Brahmastra)
Best Choreography: Bosco (Bhool Bhulaiya 2)
(The list is not exhaustive)