Sunday Times 2025 Awards: Celebrating the Year’s Noteworthy Moments

The Sunday Times proudly honors the newsmakers who added flair to 2025. These awards are intended to be lighthearted and fun, highlighting the most memorable events of the year.

Chance pe Dance Award

Winner: Shafali Verma
Shafali made a stunning impression as she stepped into the Women’s T20 World Cup squad as an injury replacement. She not only contributed significantly with a match-winning score of 87 runs off 78 balls but also clinched two pivotal wickets in the final.

Portfolio Diversification Award

Winner: Smriti Irani
Smriti deftly navigated her roles in both the saffron parivar and the Virani parivar, showcasing her versatility and adaptability.

Kaam Sutra Award

Winner: L&T Chairman
The Chairman sparked outrage with his suggestion that employees should work 90 hours a week, humorously adding, “how long can you stare at your wife?” This remark perfectly encapsulated the workaholic mentality.

Hawa Hawaii Award

Winner: IndiGo
IndiGo garnered this award for their infamous belief that simply transporting passengers equates to flying, while also hoping additional pilots would materialize to meet new rest time regulations.

Oppn-heimer Award

Winner: Rahul Gandhi
Promising an array of audacious solutions to electoral roll ‘fraud,’ Rahul Gandhi’s grand plans were met with skepticism by the electorate of Bihar, leaving his proposals effectively deflated.

GPS Award

Winner: Vandalizers Threatening Kunal Kamra
This award goes to a group of misguided individuals who tried to locate comedian Kunal Kamra but hilariously struggled with navigation, questioning, “Abhi Tamil Nadu kaise pahunchega bhai?”

Mission Impawsible Award

Winner: Delhi Courts
The courts issued a mandate for all stray dogs in Delhi to be sheltered within eight weeks. Fortunately, this order was later softened on appeal, showcasing a more pragmatic approach.

Seeta-Geeta Award

Winner: Diabetes Drugs
These medications made headlines by proving to be surprisingly effective weight-loss aids, prompting many to skip traditional workouts in favor of pills.

Stung Parivar Award

Winner: The Lalu Clan
Following the Bihar election results, the Lalu family demonstrated that sibling rivalry could reach new heights, taking the political defeat personally.

Hum App Ke Award

Winner: Communications Ministry
In a bid to enhance cybersecurity, the ministry mandated the pre-installation of the Sanchar Saathi app on new phones, which critics forced them to retract after initial resistance.

Omkara Award

Winner: Saif Ali Khan
Saif Ali Khan showcased his ‘down-to-earth’ nature by chasing off a thief from his Mumbai residence while hailing an auto to the hospital afterward.

Light Year Award

Winner: Bengaluru Traffic
Astrophysicist Shubhanshu Shukla humorously noted that one could reach space faster than navigate Bengaluru traffic on his way to a tech summit, reflecting the city’s infamous congestion.

Bungee Jump Award

Winner: Jagdeep Dhankhar
The health of the former Vice President took a tumble, prompting his resignation amid a flurry of speculation.

Deja Woe Award

Winner: Congress in Karnataka
Political maneuvering in Karnataka seems poised to echo past sagas from MP, Punjab, and Chhattisgarh, leading to concerns of endless déjà vu.

Comebacks of 2025

Nitish Kumar

Tossing aside both a familiar opponent and a new contender, Kumar secured a record 10th term as Bihar’s Chief Minister.

Himesh Reshammiya

The return of Himesh’s signature cap brought fans from both younger generations back to his concerts, marking a resurgence in his popularity.

Akshaye Khanna

While he may not have had a leading role previously, 2025 solidified Akshaye’s reputation as Bollywood’s favorite villain with standout performances.

Kiran Desai

After two decades, Kiran’s new novel, The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny, made waves by landing on the Booker shortlist.

Kyunki Saas Bhi Reboot

The iconic soap returned to television with many of its original cast members, earning significant viewer engagement once again.

Shein

Following a five-year hiatus due to a ban, the fast-fashion giant returned to India through a partnership with Reliance Retail.

Goodbyes in 2025

Ro-Ko

Star cricketers Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s retirement from Test cricket surprised many, ending their illustrious careers.

Rohan Bopanna

The 45-year-old tennis star, one of just four Indians to claim a Grand Slam, announced his retirement after an extensive career.

BluSmart

Despite its promise of cleaner mobility, the EV cab-hailing service faced serious allegations, forcing it into temporary suspension.

Real Money Gaming

A new legal framework posed challenges for apps like Dream11 and MPL, which had tailored their business models around monetary stakes.

Skype

Microsoft has shifted its focus to Teams, officially closing down Skype, which once bridged distances for countless users.

MIG-21

The beloved Soviet fighter jet, a controversial yet iconic symbol for the country, flew its last mission after over six decades of service.

This recap of the year’s most prominent newsmakers and events not only highlights key moments but also captures the ongoing narratives shaping our society.