actors Sanjay Mishra i Randeep Hooda have shared their reactions after being honored at the 72nd edition of the National Film Awards. Sanjay Mishra received the Best Supporting Actor award for his performance in Bhakshak. Randeep Hooda, meanwhile, won the best debut director award for ‘Swatantrya Veer Savarkar’. Sanjay earned himself the honor of playing a veteran cameraman in ‘Bhakshak’. Randeep was recognized for directing Swatantrya Veer Savarkar, a project in which he also played the lead role and co-wrote.
Sanjay Mishra opens up about being awarded the National Award
After announcing the winners, Sanjay Mishra thanked the National Award jury for the recognition. He also recalled a deeply personal memory related to the ad. The actor said hearing the news through the Press Information Office reminded him of his late father, who once worked there. As reported by The Hindu, he said, “Today, the news of the National Award has also come from the Press Information Bureau. It touched my heart.” Sanjay also looked back on his three-decade journey in the film industry. He said the honor went to everyone who had 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 honest with every character that has been presented to me. This honor belongs to the directors, producers, writers, technicians and fellow actors I have had the privilege of working with, as well as to the audience, who have embraced my work with so much love over the years. I am deeply grateful.”Directed by Pulkit, ‘Bhakshak’ released on OTT in 2024. The film features Bhumi Pednekar in the lead role, while Sanjay Mishra plays a seasoned cameraman who assists investigative reporter Vaishali Singh during a sensitive investigation.
Randeep Hooda says the National Award wins a personal victory
For Randeep Hooda, the National Award marks a memorable achievement as a filmmaker. ‘Swatantrya Veer Savarkar’ was his first venture as a director. Along with directing the film, he portrayed Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and also contributed to the script. Sharing his reaction, Randeep said that the project demanded more from him than any previous work. He described the journey to the cinema as difficult but rewarding.He said in a statement: “It’s a moment I’m still trying to process. This film asked more of me than anything else I’ve ever done. The journey of this film was full of challenges at every turn, but I’m glad I saw it and overcame each one. And yet, somehow we still found the strength to move forward. As a first-time actor and film director, I felt it all, because I gave everything I had as screenwriter.an immense responsibility to tell the story of Veer Savarkar with sincerity and honesty.“Randeep also credited the entire team for standing by the project through all the challenges. He said the award belonged to everyone involved in bringing the film to life and hoped it would encourage younger audiences to learn more about Veer Savarkar’s life. He said, “This recognition belongs to all of us and I hope it inspires more people, especially the younger generation, to discover and reflect on Veer Savarkar’s legacy.“The 72nd National Film Awards awarded films certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) during the calendar year 2024. Among the top winners, Mammootty and Kartik Aarya shared the Best Actor award for Bramayugam and Chandu Champion, while Yami Gautam won the Best Actress award for Article 370. The film also received the Best Film honor, making it one of the biggest winners at the ceremony.