Lux Style Awards a 'complete disaster': Paid star power and lost glory

The 25th Lux Style Awards have left the entertainment industry buzzing, but not exactly for the right reasons.

On a recent episode of Something Haute, Hassan Choudary and Aamna Haider Isani pulled no punches while dissecting what went wrong with the much-anticipated night, giving viewers an unfiltered look at a ceremony that, by their account, fell far short of expectations.

Aamna Haider Isani set the tone early, lamenting the lack of the trademark glamour.

“There was no pizzaz, no finesse, no oomph like the Lux Style Awards is known for... the candles (decor) was very tacky.”

Her critique went beyond aesthetics, delving into the mechanics of the event itself. In her opinion, the real reason of the event not being up to the mark was the budget cuts.

“Budget cuts, from what I’m hearing, a lot of people were paid to turn up,” she revealed, emphasizing that “If a bulk of the budget is going to get star power, and not in getting the right show director… Agar apka nomination process hi itna skewed hai, tou obviously apko art ki aur artist ki recognition ki tou value nahi hai.”

The debate on the awards’ credibility continued with fashion and film nominations coming under fire.

Hassan Choudary also mentioned that some good movies did not even make it to the nominations!

“Glassworker jaisi film bani, Na Baligh Afraad, Taxali Gaye, Dagabaaz Dil...," to which Aamna nodded.

According to Aamna, "Fashion nominations are a joke". She also admitted there’s “huge room for improvement” across the board, hinting that the selection process and the awards’ structure were in urgent need of reform.

Hassan Choudary described the ceremony as “a scaled-down event, I wouldn’t call it even a red carpet. It wasn’t an award show, it was a get together of celebrities.”

Uncomfortable chairs, lackluster performances, and a disengaged audience painted a picture far removed from the grandeur of past LSAs.

“Is mein lag rha tha dil nahi lag rha kisi ka,” he said, adding that even the anticipation of performers was absent.

“Kahan wo time tha jahan ap ko pehle se pta tha Reema Mawra Hocane ke saath perform kr rhi hein and this time I did not know who’s performing.”

Hassan also contrasted LSA 25 with previous editions, recalling the extravagance of Malaysia and Dubai ceremonies. “Malaysia – 2 hotels booked. Dubai – Priyanka Chopra performed, Sonu Nigam performed. Lahore's Expo had a big show."

Aamna added how Ali Zafar, Amina Haq, Resham, Reema, Meera have all performed previously, while this time, there were NO dance performances!

Hassan asserted: “There is no excellence anymore, in any aspect of the LUX style awards.”

Even when performances or awards happened, the impact felt hollow, as Aamna said: “LSA didn’t do any favors by giving awards to the already-awardees in the drama category… They haven’t done any favors to Fahad Mustafa, Hania Amir, Kabhi Mein Kabhi Tum.”

Their work is already internationally recognized and speaks for itself.

A key point of criticism centered on inclusivity and social impact.

Aamna pointed out how Zard Patton Ka Ban co-producers Kashf Foundation wasn’t invited and was deeply disappointed to know they had won an award via social media, highlighting a disconnect between the awards’ platform and the producers who should have been invited.

Despite the glitz that a star-studded lineup can provide, both Choudary and Isani agreed that the heart of the awards, that the recognition of genuine talent and artistic excellence, was missing.

Aamna succinctly summed it up: “I know that people were paid to get there,” underlining the sense that the ceremony relied more on celebrity presence than the celebration of achievement.

In short, LSA 25 appears to have been an event where star power was bought, presentation lacked thought, and the essence of what made Lux Style Awards a benchmark for Pakistan’s entertainment industry has been overshadowed.

For now, the 25th edition serves less as a celebration and more as a cautionary tale, reminding organizers that glitz cannot replace genuine substance, and fame cannot substitute for thoughtful curation.