Even after a week, lux Zee Cine Awards 2016 remains still the talk of the town. Attended by a galaxy of Indian cinema’s biggest stars, the awards ceremony was a night to remember for all the right reasons. The performance that stood out from the clutter of routine celeb-led ones at award functions and had the audiences glued to their seats was the action-packed tribute to the stuntmen of the industry, choreographed by Bollywood’s most popular filmmaker Rohit Shetty. It’s a first on any awards show that stuntmen have received their due with a live daredevil-stunt performance.

Rohit became emotional while announcing the Outstanding Contribution to Indian Cinema Award to the veteran action director Veeru Devgan and called it his humble Gurudakshina. Veeru’s direction of remarkable action scenes over the years has inspired a generation of directors including Rohit Shetty. The latter chose the Zee Cine Award stage to offer his Gurudakshina to the father of his close friend, Ajay Devgn.

VeeruDevgan is one of Hindi Cinema’s most renowned stunt and action choreographers who has been working in the film industry since the 1970s choreographing the fight and action scenes for over 80 films.

Senior Devganwas accompanied by his daughter-in-law, actress Kajol who on his behalf and said, “I have made both my kids realise about the magnanimity of the honour bestowed on my father-in-law. It takes a lot of hard work and talent to achieve this. Not everyone is as blessed.”

It was also a special moment when an audio visual was played with a recorded message from Ajay Devgn. Proud of his father’s achievements, Ajay said, “My father is not only an action director in movies but also a fighter in real life… Whatever I am today it is because of him. I exist because of him.” 

lux Zee Cine Awards 2016 will air on Zee Cinema, Zee Cinema HD, Zee Anmol and Zee Tamizh on Saturday, March 5, at 7 PM.