Actors: Sanjay Mishra and: Randeep Hooda shared their reactions after being honored at the 72nd National Film Awards. Sanjay Mishra received the Best Supporting Actor award for his performance in Bhakshak. Randeep Hooda, on the other hand, won the Best Debut Director award for ‘Swatantrya Veer Savarkar’. Sanjay earned the acting accolade for portraying a veteran cameraman in ‘Bhakshak’. Randeep is credited with directing Swatantrya Veer Savarkar, a project in which he also played the lead role and served as co-writer.
Sanjay Mishra opens up on receiving the National Award
After announcing the winners, Sanjay Mishra thanked the National Award jury for the recognition. He also recalled a deeply personal memory connected to the announcement. The actor said that hearing the news through the Press Information Bureau reminded him of his late father, who used to work there. As reported by The Hindu, he said, “Today, the news of the National Award also came from the Press Information Bureau. It touched my heart.” Sanjay also returned to his three-decade journey in the film industry. He said that the honor belongs to everyone who has contributed to his career over the years, including filmmakers, writers, technicians, fellow actors and the audience.Mishra added, “For more than three decades, I have tried to be true to every character that has come my way. This honor belongs to the directors, producers, writers, technicians and fellow actors I have been privileged to work with as well as the audience, who have embraced my work with so much love over the years. I remain extremely grateful.”Directed by Pulkit, ‘Bhakshak’ is slated to release on OTT in 2024. The film features: Bhumi Pednekar in the lead role, while Sanjay Mishra is an experienced cameraman who assists investigative journalist Vaishali Singh during a sensitive investigation.
Randeep Hooda called winning the National Award a personal victory
For Randeep Hooda, the National Award marks a memorable achievement as a filmmaker. ‘Swatantrya Veer Savarkar’ was his first directorial venture. Along with directing the film, he portrayed Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and also contributed to the screenplay. Sharing his reaction, Randeep said that the project required more of him than any previous work. He described the journey of making a film as difficult but rewarding.He said in a statement, “This is a moment that I am still trying to process. This film asked me more than anything I have ever done. The journey of this film was filled with challenges at every turn, but I am happy that we saw it and overcame each of those. And yet, somehow we continue to find the strength to continue. The story of Veer Savarkar with sincerity and honesty.“Randeep also credited the entire team for standing by the project through every challenge. He said the award belongs to everyone involved in bringing the film to life and hopes it will inspire young viewers to learn more about Veer Savarkar’s life. He said, “This recognition belongs to everyone, and I hope it will inspire many people, especially the younger generation, to discover and reflect on Veer Savarkar’s legacy.“The 72nd National Film Awards honored films certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in the calendar year 2024. Among the major winners, Mammootty and: Kartik Aaryan shared the Best Actor award for Bramayugam and Chandu Champion, while Yami Gautam won Best Actress for Article 370. The film also received the Best Feature Film award, making it one of the biggest winners at the ceremony.