“London is my favourite, favourite place in the world!” Shah Rukh Khan beamed when he collected his Best Actor award for ‘Chak De! India’ at last Saturday’s Zee Cine Awards 2008 in London.

The ‘Bollywood Bafta’ was presented to him by Bollywood’s original diva, Rekha who stunned the sell-out crowd by reciting the rhyme ‘Jack and Jill’ and singing a few lines from the classic Asha Bhosle track, ‘Dil Cheez Kya Hai’ from the film ‘Umrao Jaan’. Khan performed his ‘Om Shanti Om’ number with at least ten other stars on stage. “Why didn’t you call me on stage to dance with you?” Rekha asked Khan. “Oh Rekhaji, we have grown too old for you!” he cheekily replied.

Khan’s win was no surprise: he was nominated twice in the Best Actor’s category for the aforementioned ‘Chak De! India’ and for his blockbuster ‘Om Shanti Om’. Khan also won the first ever ‘Lifestyle Icon’ award, which broke into half when he collected it. The ‘King Khan’ ended by thanking his London fans: “It is the overseas audience who have made me the star I am.”

Shilpa’s best support

“I’m ecstatic; I have been nominated so many times but I never won,” a visibly tearful Shilpa Shetty cried when she collected her award for Best Supporting actress for ‘Life in a Metro’. Looking stunning as usual in a long white dress, Shetty was accompanied by her producer boyfriend Raj Kundra and her mom. Shetty retained her trademark dignity when she encountered not only one but two of her alleged cheating ex-boyfriend’s former girlfriends: Raveena Tandon and Pooja Bhatra. “This city has gifted me so many awards,” Shetty beamed. “I am so lucky to have the best support system in the world: my parents.”