~On Boarding New Roles~ FK AT 22 - Page 93

"It's a more personal experience and it's good to be so relaxed and connected for a change," said star of the moment, actor Fawad Khan, who smiled through hundreds of pictures, most of them selfies requested by fans. As expected, he did steal the limelight when he made an entrance, but it was an evening that honoured winners and that's what each one of them holding the trophy was. Fawad Khan picked up Best Actor for Zindagi Gulzar Hai.

The Lux Style Awards this year may have been far more contained and low-profile unlike the usual glamorous and grand affairs but it was in good taste, allowing winners to cherish the attention. Many preferred the quick and crisp ceremony to the often delayed and over-extended grandiose affairs.

Held at Movenpick Hotel's ballroom over an elegant high-tea yesterday evening, the LSAs were such a breath of fresh air. With a trademark pink floral bouquet welcoming you down the red carpet, a long glass table with decadent desserts and delicate yet refreshing hors d'oeuvres placed right at the centre of all the infectious glory and giant pictures of each and every winner pinned elegantly on the walls, with their names underneath each picture written in gold, the venue was a feast for the senses - as if a more luxurious, sophisticated and artistic version of the Hall of Fame'.

Yes, there were no performances to enjoy but the event was high on fashion and style as the country's finest leading ladies, as well as men, from all four fields - fashion, film, television and music - walked down the red carpet in head-turning outfits, turning photographers into shutter-bugs. The woman who tops our list is Aamina Sheikh, who won the Best Actress Award for Seedlings and looked every bit the star in Shehla Chatoor's bold, edgy and chic Misaki creation from Fashion Pakistan Week' 14. But then again Aamina has always been a style icon and similarly she has always been an LSA favourite.

"When I started my journey, Lux Style Awards was also conducted in a very similar fashion on a small scale. But there is a certain beauty to this because it's just so intimate," said Aamina about the event. "I think I have gotten the most fulfillment out of the smaller affairs because it is a lot more meaningful and there is more attention to detail. The bigger ones no doubt come with a shebang and everybody looks forward to them but the low-profile ones have a lot more value."

Aamina has come leaps and bounds, transitioning from modeling to television and now film. When asked how she felt about being acknowledged for a film, she said, "It has instigated this drive in me that next time around, it has to be for a bigger, better and more mainstream film. Hopefully this is just another milestone that will just keep pushing me forward and us as an industry forward."

The rest of the film awards went to Zinda Bhaag's team, who were all present to receive the honours from the local sphere after having enjoyed a great deal of fame and good fortune in the international circuit.

The fashion category had quite a few surprises in store with Sana Safinaz not winning any award given that they had multiple nominations and Sania Maskatiya winning for Achievement in Fashion Design - Lawn and Luxury Pret. Given Sania's progress and growing popularity over the past year, she was a cinch to win but even she was pleasantly surprised to pick up two awards. Khaadi, on the other hand, remained a favourite this year as well winning yet another Best High Street Award (Shamoon Sultan's tenth LSA) and it's unfortunate that he couldn't take the time out to receive the honour, despite being in town. The other big winner was Nabila, who won her eighth award for Best Hair and Make-up Artist and took it sportingly, saying, "I really hope I don't take it for granted now".

A bit mellow but finally more diverse, the music category saw Yasir Jaswal grab his first award and not only share his excitement on winning but he also dished out a few details about his upcoming film Jalaibee.

The crowning moment of the entire evening was, without a doubt, Fawad Khan's presence. It seems the actor has been on a winning streak, grabbing awards and appreciation both internationally and nationally. And while recently the buzz has all been about his Bollywood debut, the LSAs took him down the memory lane to his humble beginnings in television.

"I am overwhelmed," he spoke to Instep. It may not seem like so because of the casual vibe but it's truly an amazing feeling to know that people have shown so much love and so much of it, consistently," said Fawad when we were finally able to get a hold of him amidst the crowd of excited fans. "I am humbled. I have always felt that maybe I don't deserve it but if people have gone out and cast their vote for me so graciously, I am very thankful to them." Now don't we wish all our stars were as charismatic and gracious!