Karachi There was controversy, glamor, and a whole lot of style, but it was comedian and actor Yasir Hussain who ensured that his proposal to actor Iqra Aziz stole the show at this year’s Lux Style Awards (LSA).
Known as one of the most prominent award events – celebrating achievement in Pakistan’s entertainment and fashion industries – this year’s LSA edition was packed with hits and misses.
Sparkling backdrops lined the red carpet at Karachi’s Expo Center – which was transformed into a breathtaking set by show director Freiha Altaf – where the creme de la creme from the fashion, film and television industries rubbed shoulders with each other, with Instagram serving the content up in real time.
The 18th Lux Style Awards at Karachi's Expo Center opened with a breathtaking instrumental rendition of Pakistan's national anthem played on a matka (clay pot), violin, rhubab and sattar by the band Grehan
The show itself, which began two and a half hours late, ran smoothly, with hosts Shehryar Munawar, Maya Ali, and Mehwish Hayat keeping the momentum going.
Hayat didn’t miss the opportunity to deliver a crisp comeback to online trolls – who had questioned the actor’s credibility after she was bestowed with the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz award – by saying that one could be both a “Billi,” (in reference to an item number dance song she performs) and a star at the same time.
The show, which included singing and dancing performances from Momina Mustehsen, Atif Aslam, Maya Ali, and Meera, was laced with several thank you speeches, too.
Maya Ali performed a dance number during the show from her film "Teefa in Trouble," whose director Ahsan Rahim won for "Best Director"
This year’s awards were shrouded in controversy following a sizeable boycott which began with model Eman Suleman – who was nominated for “Best Emerging Talent” – rejecting the nomination due to singer and actor Ali Zafar also being nominated at the awards.
Zafar had been accused by fellow actor and singer (and nominee) Meesha Shafi and other women of sexual harassment. Last year’s LSAs strongly aligned itself with the #MeToo movement leaving many disenfranchised by his nomination in lieu of the accusations.Following in the footsteps of Suleman, a number of fashion fraternity members, including veteran designer Maheen Khan, director Jami, and other nominees publicly stated that they would not support the LSAs and would not accept their nominations either.At the awards, the categories which usually boast at least five nominees were whittled down but an acknowledgment of the boycott never took place.
Reacting to the withdrawals, the LSA released a statement which was widely criticized.
In a cringe-worthy, “girl power” moment, Hayat was joined on stage by fellow thespian Zara Abbas Noor for a performance which did not execute well but was as close to toeing the line of women empowerment as possible.
Mehwish Hayat and Zara Abbas Noor introducing the fashion segment at the 18th Lux Style Awards
There were some stand out moments, too, such as Ahmed Ali Butt and Uzma Khan announcing the winner for “Best TV Actor” Viewers Choice, wherein Khan accidentally read out Feroze’s name and not the category she was announcing which lead to a warm laugh and roaring applause from the room.
The House of Kamiar Rokni’s Kamiar Rokni won the award for “Achievement in Fashion Design (Bridal Couture),” and gave a resounding speech, while the award for “Best TV Writer” went to Bee Gul for “Dar Si Jati Hai Sila,” whose speech included the importance of telling hard and uncomfortable stories on TV screens. Newcomer model Mushk Kaleem won the award for “Best Emerging Talent in Fashion,” and Chapter 2 took home the title for “Achievement in Fashion Design-Pret.”
The awards had a series of recognizable faces hosting including Fahad Mustafa, who entered the stage on a rickshaw. Mustafa took home the award for "Best Actor Male" for his role in "Load Wedding"
But the top highlight of the evening was actor Hussain proposing to the love of his life, actor Iqra Aziz. Aziz had a fantastic night bagging both the Viewers Choice and Critics Choice awards for “Best TV Actor Female.”
A complete list of last nights winners:
FASHION
Model of the year (Female)
Winner: Sadaf Kanwal
Model of the year (Male)
Winner: Shahzad Noor
Achievement in Fashion Design (Bridal Couture)
Winner: Kamiar Rokni
Achievement in Fashion Design (Menswear)
Winner: Republic by Omer Farooq
Achievement in Fashion Design (Pret)
Winner: Chapter 2
Achievement in Fashion Design (Luxury Pret)
Winner: Sana Safinaz
Best Fashion Photographer
Winner: Rizwan ul Haq
Best Hair and Make-up Artist
Winner: Qasim Liaqat
Best Emerging Talent in Fashion (0-3 Yrs.)
Winner: Mushk Kaleem — Model
Lifetime Achievement Award
Winner: Nabila’s
FILM
Best Film
Winner: Cake
Best Director
Winner: Ahsan Rahim for Teefa in Trouble
Best Actor (Viewer’s Choice)
Winner: Ali Zafar for Teefa in Trouble
Best Actor (Critics Choice)
Winner: Fahad Mustafa for Load Wedding
Best Actress (Viewers Choice)
Winner: Mehwish Hayat for Load Wedding
Best Actress (Viewers Choice)
Winner: Sohai Ali Abro for Motorcycle Girl
Best Playback Singer
Winner: Atif Aslam for Thaam Lo in Parwaz Hai Junoon
MUSIC
Best Song
Winner: Ya Qurban by Khumariyan
Singer of the Year
Winner: Mohsin Abbas and Sohail Haider for Na Jaa
Best Emerging Talent
Winner: Saakin for Saqi-e-Bewafa
TELEVISION
Best TV Play
Winner: Suno Chanda on Hum TV Network
Best TV Play Director
Winner: Kashif Nisar for Dar Si Jati Hai Sila
Best TV Writer
Winner: Bee Gul for Dar Si Jati Hai Sila
Best TV Actor (Viewers Choice)
Winner: Feroze Khan for Khaani
Best TV Actor (Critics Choice)
Winner: Nauman Ejaz for Dar Si Jati Hai Sila
Best TV Actress (Viewers Choice)
Winner: Iqra Aziz for Suno Chanda
Best TV Actress (Critics Choice)
Winner: Iqra Aziz for Suno Chanda
Best Original Sound Track
Winner: Khaani by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan
Best Emerging Talent
Winner: Rida Bilal for Khudgarz — Writer
