MUMBAI: Awards always bring out the emotional side in human beings and the Sangini Indian Telly Awards was no exception. If Life Time Achievement Award winner Ramanand Sagar delivered a highly charged acceptance speech where he paid tribute to his family, Best Television Personality, Best Debutant, male and female awardees, respectively, Rajeev Khandelwal and Jasmeet Walia appeared a bit overwhelmed by all the accolades they received.

Veteran Sagar's emotional outpouring at the honour bestowed on him was without doubt the high point of the evening when the frail man graciously accepted the award, but did not forget to thank all those in his life who had contributed to his success. What was particularly moving was when Sagar, using turns of phrase heavily laced with Urdu, gave special credit for his success in life to "my sangini (wife) of 68 years, Lakshmi.

Exuberance was what Khandelwal and Walia exemplified. "It has not yet sunk in. I think it is going to sink in tomorrow," Khandelwal, who got the award for his performance in Kahiin To Hoga, exclaimed.

Realising that this may be too cryptic, he added for good measure: "I was actually expecting two awards categories of Best Debutant and Best Couple, but the Best TV Personality Award of the Year was a surprise for me. And for all this the credit goes to ME!"

Surprise was written all over Walia's face too at receiving the Best Television Personality (Female) for essaying Jassi in Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahi. While signing autographs for kids, an apparently happy Walia said, "I wasn't even aware that I was being nominated in this category. So when my name was announced, my mom actually had to shake me. I am awe-struck. It is such a great feeling and an exhilarating experience."

Walia's co-star in Jassi and the awardee for the Best Actor in a supporting role (female), Rakshanda Khan (she plays Mallika), looking ravishing in a black sequined ensemble, sounded a bit breathless too. "When you are pitted against actors of great caliber like Aroona Iraani and Sudha Shivpuri (Kyunki's Baa), the feeling is even more unbelievable. It was definitely something completely unexpected and I have great respect for my audience's choice," she crooned while embracing the Indian Telly's golden statuette.

The dapper Rajdeep Seradesai, winner in the Best News Anchor of the Year category, was as incisive with his feelings as he appears on screen while grilling politicians and other people. "It's great to receive this award. This is a tribute to hard news. This (award) is also for those people at NDTV whom you don't see in front of a camera - the producers, cameramen and technicians who work tirelessly to make the channel as good as it is. I also want to dedicate this award to our viewers who rely on our credibility."

Sheeraz Hasan (the US-based producer of the show Tinseltown.tv ), who won the Hall of Fame special award said," When I went to America a few years ago people told me that there was no way I would make it in Hollywood. Nonetheless I beat the odds. I want to thank God and my parents. I also want to say to the young people present that God's delays do not mean God's denial. Dream big, take big steps and if you have enough faith in God, then you never know what you can achieve. I also want to thank my production partner Zarina. We have managed to bring the world of Bollywood closer to Hollywood."

Queen bee of Indian soap operas, Ekta Kapoor of Balaji Telefilms, which bagged the Best Production House of Year, apart from two other awards, did not forget to thank the Almighty amongst others: "God's been very kind and I hope this year too we will do some good work."

While receiving the award for Best Daily Serial (Kahiin To Hoga), Kapoor said, "Kahiin To Hoga was an experiment that we tried out and that experiment has worked for us. So I am really happy that the serial has got so much of appreciation at the Sangini Indian Telly Awards."

It was pure ecstasy that was written on the face of DJ Creative's Deeya Singh after she received the Best Programme of the Year award for Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahi. "It is the victory of an underdog!" Singh exclaimed, adding, "We didn't expect such adulation, but what I can is that it has been the year of the underdog. We do little, but we do it well and guess this award makes it worth it." Proud husband and partner Tony Singh beamingly looked on before saying, "Sony is a brave channel to have attempted such a different show and I guess it is kudos to them for making such a brave choice." What did Sony Entertianment TV have to say about these gushing utterings? "This award goes to the team that thought of getting a brilliant show like Yo Soya Betty la fea. So it all goes to Sunil Lulla, Saurabh Banjara, Kunal Dasgupta..." SET India's executive vice-president, programming and response, Tarun Katial continued the thanksgiving.

Best Actor in a comic role (female) Manini De, as Pari in Sony's Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahi, felt that it was her basic intelligence that got her the award. "I am too intelligent to turn down a role like that of Pari. I wanted to do a comic role for quite some time now, so when the opportunity came I had to grab it."

Star India creative director Shailaja Kejriwal, while receiving the award for the best Creative Director of the Year, expressed her happiness that people thought she was "deserving of this award."

Ronit Roy Bose certrianly looked relieved after receiving the Best Actor in Supporting Role (Male) for Kasautii Zindagi Kay. "There was strong competition for this category and honestly I was not expecting it. But it feels great after receiving this award," he said.

According to Shabbir Ahluwalia, recipient of the Best Actor in a Negative Role award for Kahiin To Hoga, "I wasn't expecting to win tonight, but on having won the award it feels really amazing."

Speaking on behalf of the Sangini TV Couple of the Year (Rajeev Khandelwal and Aamna Shariff), the `better half' said, "All thanks goes to Ekta Kapoor for choosing Rajeev and me for the serial. It's been amazing to win this award and I am very happy to have got it."

Urvashi Dholakia, who won the Best Actor in a Negative Role (Female) award for essaying Komolika in Kasautii Zindagii Kay on Star Plus thanked all those who "love and support" her, which included, of course, Ekta Kapoor and Star Plus.

Best Actor of the Year (Male) winner Hiten Tejwani, playing Karan in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi on Star Plus, expressed her gratitude to God and her parents and, for good measure , added, "With all my feelings and respect, I thank Balaji and Ekta for the role. In fact it was Ekta who called me and made me believe that I can do the role of Karan."

Best Actor in a Comic Role (Male) Rajeev Mehta, essaying Praful in Khichdi on Star Plus, said, "I dedicate this award to my mother as she discovered and nurtured the artist in me being an All India radio artist herself."

Max won the Big Idea of the Year award for Extraaa Innings. According to Max business head and Sony CFO N.P. Singh, "We are excited and delighted to have been recognised. A lot of effort and thought has gone into the creation and presentation of Extraaa Innings. It was a breakthrough and has created benchmarks in cricket presentation in India."