Actor Anupam Kher is blissful that the The Kashmir Files gained the National Award and he says the win is additional particular as a result of it was recognised because the Best Feature Film on National Integration.
Thanking the jury headed by Ketan Mehta, Kher says, “We had high hopes about it winning the National award because when you do your best work, you expect things to be happening. But whatever happened following the release, we never expected to win in this category. (Director) Vivek Agnihotri is not in the country at the moment but I can speak on his behalf and say that we never expected to win in this category after all that happened. This national award has answered every person who doubted the intention of this film. The honour in this category has put a double smile on our faces.”
When requested if he sees this as a solution to all of the individuals who known as it a propaganda mission, Kher provides, “Sometimes you don’t even want to give a slap to people who thought otherwise. It’s the time for celebration and we want to continue doing it.”
However, one want that is still unfulfilled is him getting an award for his efficiency within the film. “I would have loved to win a National Award for my acting, too, because this is undoubtedly one of my finest performances. But like I mentioned (in my social media post), agar saari khwaishein poori hojaein to aage kaam karne ka maza kaise aayega,” he says.
Kher, congratulating all different winners, goes on so as to add, “Sometimes when you don’t win an award, the only thing you have to show is grace. It is not about undermining the person who has won it. Whether it’s Allu Arjun (Best Actor for Pushpa) or Pankaj Tripathi (Best Supporting Actor for Mimi), all of them are very talented actors and deserve all the appreciation and recognition. But I am very objective when it comes to performance and The Kashmir Files was one of my best performances. There are three-four categories that they give awards for. So it would have been nice. But again I would say that it’s not a complaint but just an observation.”
With the National award announcement, Kher additionally made one other revelation that he was an Executive Producer for the movie other than contributing to it as an actor. “ I had requested Vivek to give me the title of executive producer and he was gracious enough to do that. I wanted that because I am also a Kashmiri Pandit. But we never talked about it,” he says. However, now, Kher felt it was time to share that as he feels he’s “part of winning this special category award”.
The veteran actor desires to dedicate this award to all of the individuals who suffered 32 years in the past and had been denied the popularity. “And to people who lost their lives, people who left their homes and all those for whom the film was made. This award is for all of them,” he ends.
Source web site: www.hindustantimes.com
