The 70th National Film Awards was a star-studded affair, filled with moments of joy, surprise, and heartfelt gratitude with celebs winning like Rishab Shetty, Manasi Parekh and more.
Kannada sensation Rishab Shetty bagged the Best Actor award for his performance in Kantara. Let’s look at the reactions of the 70th National Awards winners.
On winning the Best Actor award, Rishabh Shetty said, “I am truly overwhelmed by the honour of this National Award for Kantara. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has been part of this journey, the incredible team of artists, technicians and especially Hombale Films.”
As per reports, Rishab Shetty continued, “The audiences have made this film what it is and their support fills me with a deep sense of responsibility. I am committed to working even harder to bring an even better film to our viewers. With utmost respect, I dedicate this award to our Kannada audience, the Daiva Nartakas and Appu sir. I thank the divine as we have reached this moment through the blessings of the Daivas.”
Manasi Parekh, who won the Best Actress award for Kutch Express told Money Control, “One can’t compare this with any other feeling. It’s the same I felt when I gave birth to my daughter, Nirvi. The same feeling. Yeah. I have been crying for 2 hours.”
Prashanth Neel, whose KGF Chapter 2 won the Best Kannada Film and Best Action Direction awards, said in a statement, “I am truly honored by this National Award for KGF Chapter 2. My deepest gratitude goes to Yash for his extraordinary performance and to the entire team and the crew for their relentless dedication. A heartfelt thank you to our audience for their unwavering support and to the media for their vital role in this journey. Congratulations to Rishab Shetty and Hombale Films for their well-deserved recognition with Kantara. This achievement is a shining moment for Kannada cinema and I’m grateful to everyone who made this possible.”
Vishal Bhardwaj, who won the Best Music Direction award in the Non-Feature Film category, said in a statement, “I am deeply happy to get my ninth national award. It’s the biggest award of our country. The only one that truly matters. And winning this is the greatest validation of my work! Thank you jury for this. Now I need to strive for a double digit.”
Ayan Mukerji, whose Brahmastra won the Best Playback Singer – Male, Best Music Direction and Best Film in AVGC award at the 70th National Film Awards, said in a statement, “It’s a special day for us. I am deeply grateful for the recognition Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva has received at the National Awards. The music of the film holds a special place in all our hearts. Pritam Da’s compositions coupled with Amitabh’s lyrics an Arijit’s voice is something I feel so proud and grateful for! From the music to the visual effects, we poured a lot of love into making this film, and I thank the entire team for this fantastic collaborative effort, which continues to give us so much love.”
Neena Gupta, who won Best Supporting Actress for Uunchai, shared with India Today, “It’s a very big deal for me. I used to feel very grateful just to get work. So, receiving any award for my work is a huge thing for me, no matter what the award is. But the National Award is even bigger.” He added, “I had an amazing time (shooting for Uunchai). I love Sooraj ji, the way he directed, the way he looked after us. The way he used to narrate the scenes to us. The best part was he is so cool and shaant (calm). No chillla-chilli (yelling) on set ever. This was the only set where nobody was loud ever. Then I got to work with Mr Bachchan, Boman. It was great“
Nithya Menen, the versatile actress, was awarded the Best Actress for her role in Thiruchitrambalam. An elated Nithya expressed her joy, stating that this award was a validation of her journey in the industry.
The legendary filmmaker Sooraj Barjatya, won the National Award for Best Director Category for Uunchai. He expressed his deep gratitude for the love and support he has received throughout his career.
