Second Act Awards 2026 Celebrate Courage and Reinvention
The Second Act Awards 2026 in Mumbai honored changemakers, artists, and entrepreneurs for embracing new beginnings and defying social conventions.
In a glittering evening dedicated to the power of transformation, the Second Act Awards 2026 took place at PVR Lido in Santacruz, Mumbai. Founded by Archana Dutta, the event brought together a diverse group of leaders, entrepreneurs, artists, and creators to honor those who have dared to rewrite their life stories and embrace meaningful new beginnings.
Honouring the Changemakers
The ceremony spotlighted individuals who successfully challenged societal norms and stepped into new roles with purpose. Among the distinguished awardees were:
- Rima Das: The acclaimed filmmaker and founder of Flying River Films was presented with the Global Fearless Storyteller Award for her visionary cinematic work that brings untold stories to the world stage.
- Sujata Biswas: Recipient of the Crafting Possibilities Award.
- Rani Sushant Divgikar: Honoured with the Voice of Change Award.
- Rajshri Deshpande: Received the Passion to Purpose Award.
- Aishwarya Goswami: Presented with the Emerging Changemaker Award.
- Gitanjali Babbar: Awarded the Choice & Impact Award.
- Arjun Vaidya: Received the SecondAct Changemaker: Tradition Reimagined Award.
- Nancy Nisa Beso: Honoured with the Fearless Narrative Award.
- Juhi Babbar Soni: Presented with the Own Your Voice Award.
- Ramya Ramnath: Recognised as a SecondAct Enabler.
Inspiring Voices and Keynote Moments
The event was graced by former Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture, Meenakashi Lekhi, who attended as the Chief Guest. In her address, she emphasized the importance of platforms like SecondAct in helping individuals, particularly women, recognize their true potential and move beyond self-imposed limits.
“When women are seen, heard and encouraged to design a life they want, the impact extends far beyond the individual,” Lekhi remarked, noting that such empowerment builds stronger communities and societies.
The evening also featured a powerful keynote address by business leader Shiv Shivakumar and an insightful conversation with Raj Nayak. To keep the audience engaged, cyber mentalist Poshak Dua provided an interactive experience, followed by a soulful live musical performance by singer and composer Ashish Chhabra.
A Mission of Empowerment
Reflecting on the vision behind the awards, founder Archana Dutta highlighted the importance of creating space for personal growth. She noted that SecondAct aims to provide the support and courage necessary for people to design lives that feel authentic, rather than simply meeting the expectations of society.
The ceremony, presented by SAEL and powered by Vijay Sales, concluded with a collective moment on stage featuring all awardees, speakers, and partners. The message was clear: there is always another chapter to write, and it is never too late to explore new possibilities.