Farhan Akhtar, Asin get top honours at Max Stardust Awards

Mumbai, Feb 16 (IANS) Director-turned-actor Farhan Akhtar and actress Asin Thottumkal bagged top honours for their performances in 'Rock On!' and 'Ghajini' respectively at the Max Stardust Awards 2009.

Aamir Khan-starrer 'Ghajini' also bagged the hottest film award, while its director A.R. Murugadoss walked away with the hottest new filmmaker trophy at a gala event here Sunday night.

'Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na', which is produced by Aamir, got three awards - breakthrough performance award male went to Prateik Babbar and Manjari Phadnis bagged it in the female category. Playback singer Benny Dayal received the trophy for his rendition 'Pappu can't dance...'.

Celebrity couple Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor were announced the style icon of the year, while octogenarian actor Dev Anand was honoured for his outstanding contribution to Indian cinema.

In the offbeat film categories, superstar Amitabh Bachchan bagged Searchlight Award for best actor for 'The Last Lear'.

'I am so happy for the makers and the director - Planman (motion pictures) and Rituparno Ghosh for the faith in the film and the courage to make something away from the norm,' Amitabh posted on his blog after returning from the ceremony late Sunday night.

Amitabh says that after receiving the award, he felt pangs of nostalgia, as Feb 15 was the date 40 years back in his career, when he signed his first film 'Saat Hindustani'.

'Forty years! Been a while. Struggles and uncertainties, successes and disappointments, accusations and controversies, ill health and months in hospital, all such a vivid kaleidoscope of moments, events, images… simply unbelievable and unimaginable,' wrote Amitabh.

Amrita Rao was adjudged the best female actor for her performance as an illiterate village girl in 'Welcome to Sajjanpur'.

'A Wednesday', a film about terrorism, bagged the best film award and its director Neeraj Pandey was honoured with the best director award.

The complete list of the Max Stardust awards winners:

Superstar of Tomorrow - Male

Farhan Akhtar ('Rock On!')

Superstar of Tomorrow - Female:

Asin ('Ghajini')

Hottest New Filmmaker:

A.R. Murugadoss ('Ghajini')

Hottest New Film:

'Ghajini'

Breakthrough Performance - Male:

Prateik Babbar ('Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na')

Breakthrough Performance - Female:

Manjari Phadnis ('Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na')

Standout Performance by a music director:

Dhruv Ghanekar ('Drona')

Standout Performance by a Lyricist:

Kausar Munir ('Falak tak chal'/'Tashan')

New Musical Sensation - Male:

Benny Dayal ('Pappu can’t dance saala'/'Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na')

New Musical Sensation - Female:

Anmol Malik ('Talli'/'Ugly Aur Pagli')

Exciting New Face:

Shriya Saran ('Mission Istanbul')

The New Menace:

Nikitin Dheer ('Jodhaa Akbar')

Editor’s choice award for most promising director:

Abhishek Kapoor ('Rock On!')

Outstanding contribution to Indian cinema:

Dev Anand

Pride of the industry:

Feroz Khan

Special award to Anil Kapoor:

For being the first mainstream Indian actor to take India to Hollywood and winning global recognition

STARDUST SEARCHLIGHT AWARDS WINNERS:

Best Actor

Amitabh Bachchan ('The Last Lear')

Best Actress

Amrita Rao ('Welcome To Sajjanpur')

Best Film

'A Wednesday' (Anjum Rizvi)

Best Director

Neeraj Pandey ('A Wednesday')

READER’S CHOICE AWARDS

Star of the year - Male

Hrithik Roshan ('Jodhaa Akbar')

Star of the year - Female

Priyanka Chopra ('Fashion')

Dream Director

Ashutosh Gowariker ('Jodhaa Akbar')

Best Film

'Singh Is Kinng' (Akshay Kumar and Vipul Shah)

Best actor in a supporting role

Tusshar Kapoor ('Golmaal Returns')

Best Actress in a supporting role

Kangana Ranaut ('Fashion')

Best Actor in a negative role

Anil Kapoor ('Tashan')

Style Icon of the year - Male

Saif Ali Khan

Style Icon of the year - Female

Kareena Kapoor