Glamorous ceremonies are assured guaranteed viewers. “Award shows enjoy very high TRPs. The recent Star Parivar Awards drew a TRP of about 8. There is also huge enthusiasm on the part of our advertisers,” says Prem Kamath, head, programming Star TV. “People look forward to Hindi film awards for the same reason that they are fascinated by Bollywood.”

When it comes to saluting television stars, each channel has its own set of Best Actors and Best Show trophies, chosen from their own pool of programming—Star Parivar and Zee Rishton Ka Utsav are some of the instances.

In contrast, Bollywood awards are look-alikes, with more or less the same films and actors ending up on the winning track. For instance, it is obvious that Chak De! India and Taare Zameen Par will sweep away most of this year’s trophies; and Khan’s suitcase will be stuffed with countless Best Actors in the coming months.

Apart from the winners, there is scarcely a big star present. Those who don’t win, take ill at the last minute. “One can easily guess the results,” laughs Sajid Khan, master of several such ceremonies. “That’s why our stars don't look shocked or surprised as their names are announced, unlike what happens in Hollywood.”

The picture-perfect winning moment—stars laugh, cry and gush as they hold up their trophies—ends with the biggest bore of all, the thank-you speeches. Much to our relief, Manoj Kumar, after accepting his Lifetime Achievement trophy at Star Screen, kept his speech brief and elegant, reading out a delightful poem penned by his father.

Yet, nothing can beat the drama and melodrama. “Some of the best moments of these shows that I used watch as a viewer are still etched in my memory. Award functions treat us to some beautiful real-life moments,” says Dia Mirza.

In one of last year’s shows, Jaya Bachchan thanked Amitabh, “the only man” in her life, after receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award, while then-future daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai looked on tearfully.

“Viewers get to see their favourite stars not as fictional characters of films but as real people,” says Shreyas Talpade. “That’s why viewership is guaranteed, despite so many award functions.”

So, every time Amitabh Bachchan goes on to the stage to receive a trophy, the camera zooms in on Rekha. No matter what, the audience is treated with that rare shot that catches not-so-friendly star cousins Kajol and Rani Mukerji looking through each other. And you can just tell, when Kareena Kapoor will be picking up her Jab We Met honours, we’ll be offered glimpses of Shahid Kapur or his parents.