Karan Thapar, Indian chat show host and head of production company UTV's current affairs division, has won the Asian Television Award 2000 for Best News/Current Affairs Special for his controversial interview with Pakistan's Chief Executive Pervez Musharraf. He won the coveted award at a glittering ceremony in Singapore on Thursday night which was broadcast by Singapore Television.

Thapar's one-hour interview with Musharraf was aired on Doordarshan in February and became a subject of controversy with critics questioning whether the state broadcaster should have given a platform for Pakistan's military ruler.

Thapar had bagged the Best Current Affairs or Magazine Programme Presenter along with CNBC Asia's Bettina Chua Abdullah at the 1999 Awards ceremony.

Another winner from India was in the Best Magazine Programme Category. Wheels (Episode 6 - SeriesIV) produced by Miditech (P) Ltd for Star TV took home the award.

In the Best Game Show or Quiz Programme category, Zee Network's Bournvita Quiz Contest took the runner-up slot. And in the best Infotainment Programme category too, We The People produced by United Television for Star Plus was runner-up.

Other Indian programmes and presenters were highly commended. They include: *Hard Talk India featuring Kapil Dev (Best Current Affairs Programme; UTV for BBC World) *MTV Gai Bab Gao (Bast Game or Quiz Programme; MTV India) *Niret Alva (Best Current Affairs or Magazine Programme Presenter for Miditech Ltd). Alva is getting a high commendation for the second year running.