Kunal Kohli and Prasoon Joshi. As the organisers beckoned Kohli to the seat beside Tabu, the director said: “I’m sitting beside you, my love.” Tabu replied in jest, “I’m so glad.” They were joined later by the veteran Manoj Kumar

who made jokes throughout the ceremony. Kohli and Tabu even hummed along as Urmila Matondkar danced to the melodies of Kumar's films on stage.

REKHA is always such a pleasure to host at shows. She arrives resplendent, silk saris from the south, and lavishes compliments heartily on everyone in her aura. As Tabu emerged from the stage with her critic's award for best actress, Rekha said, “Darling, you have lost so much weight.” Tabu replied: “Everyone is so conscious of losing weight these days. I too had to do something.” Later, Rekha and Gauri Khan praised each other's earrings. As Yash Chopra rested quietly backstage with wife Pamela between giving and receiving awards, Rekha gave them company and said to Pam, “Your husband is always concerned about you.”

THE Khans—Shah Rukh with his yuppie ponytail and wife Gauri in her chic dress—make a style statement wherever they go. Gauri walked in a little before her husband; even before the audience knew anything Khan was whisked into a seat beside her amid tight security. And women must especially read this: Reed-thin Gauri was happily tucking into chocolate retrieved from her fancy clutch while enjoying the show. And just before her beau’s Dard-e-Disco killer act, Gauri dropped by the green room to wish her husband. Sweet, no?

WHEN it comes to class and poise, there’s scarcely anyone who can beat Karisma Kapoor in the industry. Dressed in a classy black spaghetti blouse and skirt that clung to her perfect frame, the pretty Lolo seemed to enjoy Shahid Kapur’s performance the most. Kapur’s Nagada Nagada dance was on, when the organisers called the elder Kapoor sister to give away some awards. She was quite unwilling to leave her seat at the point and made sure to catch up with the action on the monitor in backstage even as she waited for her turn. Later on, as she accepted an award on her sister’s behalf, she conveyed Kareena’s “special thanks” to former sweetheart.