Sonu Nigam Hosts Vaseline Zee Rishtey Awards 2012

Zee TV completed 20 years of entertaining India on October 2 this year, and this called for a grand celebration of all that the channel stands for at its annual awards show Vaseline Zee Rishtey Awards 2012. The much-awaited soiree raised a toast to 20 years of togetherness. The awards show had several exciting segments shot with the key actors of its shows, airing every weekend of November as a build-up to the grand telecast of the awards function tonight.

Talking about the performances, the channel's leading ladies - Ankita Lokhande, Kratika Sengar, Narayani Shastri and Vindhya Tiwari - performed a sensational aerial act. Rithvik Dhanjani, Gurmeet Choudhary and Nandish Sandhu were in superhero avatars and did some daredevil stunts and props. Gurmeet, who danced to Ishaqzaade, laced with fire stunts, ended up burning his knuckles in the middle of the act.
The event saw the coming together of actors - old and new - under one roof. While the new actors rocked the stage, the oldies reminisced old times. Actress Shoma Anand and Rakhi Vijan were seen remembering their Hum Paanch days. Director Anurag Basu, who has produced TV serials in the past, attended the event, too. The awards function was also graced by Dance India Dance judge Terence Lewis and popular TV couple - Parmeet Sethi and Archana Puran Singh.

Sonu returns as host
Singer Sonu Nigam shot to fame as the host of Zee TV's Sa Ra Ga Ma Pa in 1995. So, when he was approached to host the annual awards - Vaseline Zee Rishtey Awards 2012 - 17 years later, Sonu gave an instant nod. Says the singer, "I have had a long association with the channel. I would always be grateful to them for giving me the stage to showcase my skill. It was in 1994-95 that they invited me as one of the guest contestants on Antakshari. They liked my attitude and confidence so much that they offered me to host the show. But I was averse to the idea of hosting an established show. I told them that we must start something new and that's how Sa Re Ga Ma Pa happened."

Sonu went out of his way to ensure that the segments he was hosting at the awards ceremony are lively and entertaining. Not only did he get involved in the writing and improvising of his script as the anchor, but also composed and sang an original song that pays tribute to Zee's 20 years. He had the audience in splits as he learned a Bhojpuri item song from Bihari girl Ratan Rajput. It was only after the show was over that he revealed that his mother wasn't keeping well and that he had to miss the after-party to be with her.

Did you know
The title Sa Re Ga Ma was suggested by none other than Sonu Nigam. He also composed the tribute song for Zee TV.

His wife, Madhurima, designed his look as the host.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/filmi-parties/bollywood/Zee-Rishtey-Awards-celebrate-20-years-of-channel/articleshow/17441083.cms