LAHORE: Prominent Pakistani celebrities walked an extravagant three-hour-long red carpet into the country’s biggest and oldest award show, the Lux Style Awards (LSA), on Thursday, with the organizers describing the 2022 edition of the show as more “inclusive.”
Currently, in its 21st year, the Lux Style Awards celebrate and honor the best in fashion, film, television and music. LSA 2022 brought Pakistan’s entertainment industry together after a gap of two years due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The award ceremony took place at the Expo Center in Lahore, with Fahad Mustafa, Urwa Hocane, Osman Khalid Butt, Amar Khan, Ahmed Ali Akbar and many others in attendance.
“There are a lot of changes [post-COVID]. The show flow has changed,” Farishteh Aslam, the awards manager, told Arab News.
“It’s a younger and more inclusive show.”
The evening paid tribute to veteran Pakistani film actress Anjuman Shaheen with Humaima Malik’s performance. Shaheen was honored with the Unilever Chairman’s ‘Lifetime Achievement Award.’
Film and TV actor Amar Khan paid tribute to late musician Nazia Hassan. Hassan was posthumously awarded with the ‘Lux Changemaker Award.’
Fahad Mustafa stole the show as host for the evening, which featured performances by Asim Azhar, Ali Zafar, Osman Khalid Butt, Urwa Hocane and Kinza Hashmi.
“It reflects the society we live in and the society today is all about music. Underground music has come up and is doing really well. Films are not so great,” Aslam said.
“Therefore, the film segment was a tribute segment. Television is fantastic. And Fashion, of course, always rules the day. Because these are the style awards. These four segments will always be the core of the Lux Style Awards.”
The ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ in fashion was presented to Fahimeh Fifi Haroon.
Actor Ahmed Ali Akbar won the ‘Best TV Actor (Critics’ Choice)’ for hit drama serial ‘Parizaad,’ while Feroze Khan won ‘Viewers’ Choice’ in the same category for drama ‘Khuda Aur Mohabbat.’ Hadiqa Kiani picked up two trophies, including the ‘Best Emerging Talent in TV’ and ‘Best TV Actress (Critics’ Choice)’ for her incredible debut with ‘Raqeeb Se.’
Bilal Abbas and Sajal Aly won ‘Best Film Actor’ for ‘Khel Khel Mein.’
“God has been really kind this year,” Aly, who wasn’t present on the occasion, told Arab News after the award’s announcement.
“I really feel that I am his special and favorite child.”
Only a few woman musicians made it to the final nominations in the music category, which earlier came under fire for no representation of women in the submissions.
Natasha Baig won the ‘Best Live Performance of the Year (Viewers’ Choice)’ award.
“This award goes to the whole female musicians’ community, it’s not only mine. I dedicate this to every woman in music in Pakistan,” Baig told Arab News.
“If I have won this award today, it is answer to those people who might have forgotten the women representation in music. We have got plenty of amazing talented female musicians in Pakistan.”