The 23rd Zee Cine Awards 2025 Salutes the Indian Armed Forces with a Heartfelt Tribute

Aparshakti Khurana’s powerful ‘Vande Mataram’ and Palak Muchhal’s emotional ‘Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon’ leave audiences teary-eyed and proud

At a time when the valour of the Indian Armed Forces stands as a beacon of inspiration for the entire nation, Maruti Suzuki presents the 23rd Zee Cine Awards 2025 took a poignant pause to pay respect to these real-life heroes. Amidst the glamour, accolades, and celebration of cinematic brilliance, ZEE carved out a powerful moment of collective pride and gratitude — dedicating part of the evening to salute the brave hearts who selflessly serve the nation. The emotional tribute, set against a backdrop of tricolour pride and reverent silence, reminded everyone in the audience of the deeper purpose of such platforms: to unite hearts in remembrance and respect.

Seizing this moment, two of the evening’s most stirring contributions came from host Aparshakti Khurana and singer Palak Muchhal. Aparshakti in a powerful rendition of the national song Vande Mataram, offered every note with heartfelt emotion and reverence to the Indian Armed Forces. His tribute set the tone for a moment that resonated deeply with the audience, igniting the spirit of patriotism in every heart.

What made the evening even more special was the voice of Palak Muchhal, who host Vikrant Massey likened to the late Lata Mangeshkar, calling her the voice of our generation. She rendered the song Aey Mere Watan Ke Logon with unmatched devotion and grace. Palak, alongside her husband Mithoon, marked their first appearance together since marriage. Her tribute brought tears to the eyes of many, reminding us of the sacrifices that keep our nation standing tall.

Talking about the performance, Palak Muchhal said, “This performance was truly one of the most emotional and memorable moments of my career. Singing Aey Mere Watan Ke Logon is always an honour, but doing it on a stage like Zee Cine Awards, in front of an audience, was incredibly humbling. It wasn’t just a song — it was a heartfelt tribute to the heroes who protect our nation. Every time I sing this iconic song, I think of Lata Ji and the emotion with which she must have performed it for the first time — it continues to give me goosebumps. It is moments like these that remind us why we do what we do — not just to entertain, but to express gratitude and to inspire. And to share this moment with Mithoon made it even more special. I am grateful to Zee Cine Awards for giving us this platform to honour our nation and create a memory we would cherish forever.”

Beyond the tribute, the night featured high-energy performances, iconic on-stage reunions, and moments that celebrated the passion and perseverance behind some of the year’s most impactful cinematic journeys.

Tune into Maruti Suzuki presents 23rd Zee Cine Awards 2025, co-powered by Maaza, Tresemme, Vicks Cough Drops, Go Cheese, and Dabur Red Paste, Energy Drink Partner – Hell Energy; Special Partners – Balaji Wafers, Cadbury Dairy Milk, Doctor Fixit, and Garnier on 7th June 7:30PM onwards only on Zee Cinema, Zee TV and ZEE5!