British pop diva Emma Bunton was the surprise package at a fashion awards ceremony here that
glittered with some of the biggest stars from the ramp and the silver screen.
While Emma, in her black Rocky S sari, hogged the limelight, actors Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai
and Feroz Khan and cricketers Zaheer Khan and Shoaib Akhtar were also present along with a host of
models and fashion designers at the F Awards - For Excellence in Indian Fashion, presented at the Taj
Land's End Saturday night.
Aishwarya looked stunning in her orange embroidered sari, and sat in the same room as Rocky S, who
reportedly criticised her dressing sense recently.
"It's like coming back to your roots. I started from here," she said in her speech.
J.J. Vallaya showcased some magnificent designs he had created especially for the show, along side the
works of nominees and débutant designers Anjali Kalia, Varun Bahl and Surily Goel.
The award for the Men's wear Designer of the Year Prêt was given to Rajesh Pratap Singh and the
Women's wear Designer of the Year Prêt was awarded to Manish Arora.
In the couture category, Rohit Bal won the Men's wear Designer of the Year award, while Tarun Tahiliani
was named the Women's wear Designer of the Year.
Nina Manuel and Upen Patel won the Model of the Year - Ramp category. The Model of the Year for
Commercial Assignment - Male award went to Raman Lamba, while Sheetal Malhar won in the award's
female category.
Varun Bahl was named the Debutante Designer of the Year, and Sonalika Sahay and Upen Patel were
judged the Fresh Faces of the Year.
Ritu Kumar received the award for Outstanding Contribution to Indian Fashion and was also named the
Designer for Promoting Indian Craft and Technique.
In the people's choice category, Shah Rukh and Aishwarya walked away with Celebrity Model of the Year
awards in the male and female categories.
The best dressed celebrities at the show were Aishwarya Rai, Sheetal Malhar, host Kamal Sidhu
Deepanita Sharma, Rohit Bal, Upen Patel, J.J. Valaya, Malaika Arora and Ritu Kumar.
And the worst dressed were Arjun Rampal, designer Varun Bahl, Tusshar Kapoor, Shawar Ali, Vidya
Malvade, Sheeba, Suneeta Rao and Shoaib Akhtar.