Meet this year's HELLO! Hall of Fame winners: Part 3

DINESH & MINAL VAZIRANI: CONTRIBUTION TO ART

Why: For establishing India’s earliest digital-first auction house, facilitating access and transparency in the Indian art ecosystem, and launching Art Mumbai.

A DIGITAL-FIRST PIONEER AUCTION HOUSE

Minal: “When Dinesh and I founded Saffronart in 2000, our objective was to build a more transparent and accessible marketplace. We were among the earliest platforms globally to publish prices and conduct auctions online. Over time, we introduced features like real-time bidding, comparable price histories, and detailed condition reporting — initiatives that contributed to greater trust within the market.”

Dinesh: “Over 25 years, it has evolved into a platform for South Asian art, with landmark auctions, category expansion, including jewellery and design, and a growing collector base across geographies. We’ve also facilitated record-setting sales of works by artists such as Amrita Sher-Gil, and Tyeb Mehta. In April, the sale of Raja Ravi Varma’s ‘Yashoda and Krishna’ set a new record for a work of modern Indian art at an auction.”

ON CREATING ART MUMBAI

Minal: “Art Mumbai was conceived to create a platform that brings together leading galleries from India and abroad. Beyond presenting and acquiring art, fairs create moments of discovery that energise a city’s cultural life. In just three years, Art Mumbai has become an anchor of the region’s cultural calendar, with growth of approximately 60 per cent from its first edition to its third.”

GLOBAL GROWTH OR LOCALLY LIMITED?

Dinesh: “India continues to be the primary market for Indian art, though we’re seeing demand from Europe, the US, the Far East, and the UK, particularly among the South Asian diaspora. Also, collectors today are younger, well-informed and more strategic in their acquisitions.”

Minal: “In recent years, we have seen more high-quality and rare works coming to the market, which has strengthened pricing benchmarks and added depth to the market.”

NEW EXPERIMENTS

Dinesh: “We have evolved to include more curated auction formats, cross-category sales, and the integration of tech to enhance the collector experience. We are also focused on expanding our international reach, both in sourcing significant works and engaging with collectors.”

MAKING IT TO THE HELLO! HALL OF FAME

Dinesh: “Receiving the award from HELLO! is an important recognition of the work we’ve undertaken over the past 25 years.”

Minal: “Our work has always been guided by a long-term view of the market, and a commitment to building it in a thoughtful and sustainable way. We are grateful to HELLO!”

VISHAL JETHWA: BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR

Why: He was a tour de force in ‘Homebound,’ India’s entry to the Oscars this year. His searing yet deeply sensitive portrayal of Chandan, a migrant worker hailing from the Dalit community, proved his dramatic depth as an actor.

CREATING CHANDAN

“I knew about the subject, but didn’t have an in-depth knowledge of how deeply rooted casteism and religious concerns still are in our society. Neeraj [Ghaywan] sir was the real guide. Not only had he spent years working on the script, he had also faced similar biases in real life. He shared his lived experience with us, which really helped me get into the skin of the character. He gave us a book to read — Annihilation of Caste by Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar — that helped me understand the issue properly. We also stayed in villages in North India and spoke to a lot of families from marginalised communities, trying to understand their challenges and how the social structure works in those regions. Ishaan [Khatter] and I would roam around in the clothes our characters were supposed to wear to get a feel of their lives. Neeraj sir didn’t want us to play the characters; he wanted us to live them. Also, to make Chandan look authentic, I lost around 10 kilos of weight — I was 64kg when we started shooting and 54kg when we wrapped up.”

THE CANNES FASHION MOMENT

“I consider my Cannes debut my fashion debut, as well! I wore [London-based menswear designer] Kaushik Velendra’s design, and was styled by Eka Lakhani. It was a last-minute decision to wear the statement black pantsuit with the birds-shaped gold brooch and gold-encrusted shoulder pads, but it became a fashion moment. It also became a life-changing milestone for me — people got to see me in a starkly different look and showered me with love. That gave me a lot of confidence to experiment with my wardrobe. Earlier, I was really scared to try new stuff. Now I’m confident experimenting even with ‘weird’ looks. I’m not afraid to fail.”

THE OSCAR SELECTION

“For me, acting started as a hobby. The dream was to have maybe five out of 10 people know who I was. That dream got fulfilled when I played Akbar in the TV serial Bharat Ka Veer Putra – Maharana Pratap. Whatever I got after that is a bonus. Yes, I’ve given my 100 per cent and strived to get better with the craft. I had never envisioned my film to be India’s official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 2026 Oscars.”

MAKING IT TO THE HELLO! HALL OF FAME

“Every award makes me feel a bit more responsible. It builds confidence as well as pressure to do better! Whenever I see this HELLO! trophy, it will remind me of the faith people have shown in me, and the love they have showered me with. That will make me work even harder!”

PRATIBHA RANTA: PROMISING ACTOR OF THE YEAR (FEMALE)

Why: After her breakthrough role as Jaya in ‘Laapataa Ladies,’ this young actor is winning hearts once again with her portrayal of Dr. Meera in the Netflix psychological thriller, ‘Accused.’

SHAPING DR. MEERA

“When I first read the script of Accused — how deeply it explores the ripple effect of an allegation, not just on the individual, but on everyone around them — it really stayed with me. We often talk about the person accused, but rarely pause to think about what their loved ones go through — the emotional chaos, the uncertainty, and the quiet battles behind closed doors. For me, Meera exists right at the heart of that storm. She’s in this incredibly fragile and conflicted space where love, doubt, loyalty, and fear all collide. On one hand, she wants to stand by her partner, to hold on to what they’ve built together, but on the other, there’s this constant question of how far is too far, and what would support look like in a moment like this. That moral and emotional dilemma is what drew me in. It’s not black and white; it’s layered, uncomfortable, and very real. As an actor, getting to explore those silences, those unsaid thoughts, and that inner conflict was both challenging and deeply fulfilling. It’s the kind of role that stays with you long after you’ve finished reading it.”

KEEPING IT RELATABLE

“I could relate to Jaya’s feelings more. And it wasn’t just me. I think the audience also found her very relatable. So many women have come up to me and said they could understand her, and felt heard and seen. It’s such a beautiful feeling… This is why I wanted to be in this profession to begin with!”

MAKING IT TO THE HELLO! HALL OF FAME

“Whenever I get an award, I remember that little girl growing up in the mountains who’d dream of becoming an actress one day. It seems surreal to me that at that young age, I was thinking about the life I have now. Today, I have so many fan reels and awards like this. There are so many hugely talented small-town people with similar dreams, but I’m getting to live my dream. I feel so grateful for this.”

AGASTYA NANDA: PROMISING ACTOR OF THE YEAR (MALE)

Why: For delivering one of the strongest early-career performances as Second Lieutenant Officer Arun Khetarpal in ‘Ikkis.

THE PRIVATE GEN-Z

Agastya Nanda isn’t known for speaking much publicly, but when asked about his legacy, he does emphasise, “I’m a Nanda. There’s no other legacy.” The grandson of the legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan, and the son of Shweta Bachchan and businessman Nikhil Nanda, Agastya’s upbringing was relatively shielded from Bollywood, till he ventured into the world of films himself.

A POWERFUL BEGINNING

His legacy notwithstanding, Agastya proved his mettle with just one film. He moved audiences with his portrayal of a 21-year-old Second Lieutenant Officer in Ikkis. While the movie may not have been a box office success, his act garnered critical acclaim — even his superstar grandfather was quoted as saying that his performance was “honest, mature and authentic.” In his review, he made it clear that this was not the opinion of a biased grandfather but that of a “hardened cinema viewer.”

MAKING IT TO THE HELLO! HALL OF FAME

“Being here with such brilliant actors, I hope I can uphold my promise, work hard, and hopefully do many more films.”

TANIA SHROFF: LUXURY TASTEMAKER OF THE YEAR

Why: She’s a London- and Mumbai-based trendsetter, who regales her substantial social media follower base with her curatorial instincts on fashion, travel, and all things luxury

A LARGER-THAN-LIFE PRESENCE

“[When starting out], I focussed on how things were shot and presented, not just what I was wearing. Gradually, that consistency built trust among luxury brands. It’s been a gradual process over the years, but the shift into high-end collaborations has strengthened my brand in the past two to three years.”

INSPIRATIONAL HACKS

“It’s a mix of instinct and immersion… I’m constantly looking at editorial campaigns, runway shows, and what creatives around me are doing. Instagram is still a major source of inspiration, but I’m more influenced by how things are styled and shot than a trend itself. It’s less about following trends and more about interpreting them in your own way.”

NEW DIRECTIONS

“This year is focussed on building beyond Instagram through creative direction, strategic brand collaborations, and more intentional projects. Alongside these endeavours, I’m continuing my work with the OpenAg Foundation and UPL Global.”

MAKING IT TO THE HELLO! HALL OF FAME

“The award feels really rewarding — especially because it celebrates curation over content. It also feels very aligned with how I see my work — more about taste and storytelling.”

RASHA THADANI: FRESH TALENT OF THE YEAR

Why: For her performance in the 2025 film ‘Azaad,’ where she won hearts with her role as Janaki Bahadur, and her dance moves in the hit number ‘Ooyi Amma,’ reminiscent of her mother Raveena Tandon’s grace.

HAPPY FEET

“My mom had sensed I’d enjoy this space. She’d make me sit and watch performances by legends like Rekha ji, Saroj ji, and Sadhana ji, not just for entertainment, but to really understand the craft. She’d break down expressions for me, pointing out the nuances in their eyes, lips, and overall emotion. I remember watching Sadhana ji’s ‘Jhumka Gira Re’ and being completely in awe of her. That process helped me absorb as much as I could, though I’m still trying to bring my own individuality into it.”

FUTURE TENSE

“I’m excited about what’s coming up this year, especially my films Laikey Laikaa and my Telugu debut with Srinivasa Mangapuram. It’s a new phase for me, and I’m looking forward to exploring different spaces, learning along the way, and giving my best to every opportunity"

SOCIAL MEDIA: A BOON OR BANE?

“Every coin has two sides. Similarly, social media has its own pros and cons. I love social media because I get to connect and interact with the audience more. On the flip side, it can give people too much access. I try to be as authentic as possible, occasionally posting a photo dump of the things I see or do. Sometimes people may watch your film, or follow you simply because they find you kind or relatable through your social media. So it really works both ways. At the same time, there’s a different charm to stars like Prabhas sir or Allu Arjun sir. Their exclusivity makes every appearance feel special. Overall, I feel the more genuine you are, the more the audience will relate to you — whether that’s on screen or social media.”

LIVING UP TO THE LEGACY

“My mom has played a huge role in shaping my understanding of performance. She didn’t just inspire me through her legacy but actively guided me in learning the finer details of expressions and grace. Watching and learning from her perspective made me appreciate the depth behind every move and emotion. I grew up admiring her work, and that naturally reflects in how I approach my own performances.”

MAKING IT TO THE HELLO! HALL OF FAME

“I’m extremely grateful for all the love and support I’ve received along the way. Being recognised at the HELLO! Hall of Fame Awards at this point feels incredibly special. It motivates me to work hard and do the best I can!”

PHOTOGRAPHY: VIKRAM BAWA
INTERVIEWS: SANGEETA WADDHWANI, ANANYA GHOSH, REWATI RAU & SHRADDHA CHOWDHURY