Paresh Rawal accuses National Award of 'corruption, lobbying': It's all a game
Actor Paresh Rawal exposed National Awards in his latest interview. While speaking to The Lallantop, the veteran actor claimed that National Awards are driven by corruption and lobbying. He also shared an example from the past when his films 'Sir' (1993) and 'Sardar' (1993) were running for the honour, and he was made aware of the lobbying by a sitting Member of Parliament in Delhi.advertisementRawal, known for his tremendous performances in Hindi films and theatre, called the National Awards 'a game'. He said he respects the National Award, but is aware of how it operates.The actor explained, "I respect two awards from the bottom of my heart, and I've received both of them - the Dinanath Mangeshkar Award and PL Deshpande Award. Main doosre award ke liye ghar se bahar na niklu. Ye kaun deta hai, uski izzat hai. Baaki awards dete hain, toh acknowledgement hai. Meri puri team ka acknowledgement hai, sirf mera nahi. Main itna indifferent hoon ki main award le bhi loon. Aapko dena hai de do [I wouldn't even step out of my house for any other award. I respect the one who's giving the award. I don't mind the rest of the awards. It's an acknowledgement for me, for my team. But, I've become so indifferent that I accept all of them. If you want to give me an award, give me an award]."advertisement
Rawal went on to talk about the National Awards and the 'lobbying' that goes around during the selection process. He said, "Mujhe Modi sahab ki government me nahi mila hai. 2013 me mila hai. Vo government ka award hai. National award ki main qadr karta hoon. National award me kabhi kabhi kya hota hai...technicalities - kisi ne bheji nahi thi film. Vo sab gandgi hoti hai. Khel khela jata hai. Lobby toh hoti hai. Daba ke hoti hai. Oscar me hoti hai lobby toh ye toh kya hai [I didn't receive it during the Modi government's tenure. I got it in 2013. It's a government award. I respect the National Award. But sometimes what happens is... due to technicalities — like a film not being submitted properly — all that mess happens. It's all a game. Lobbying does happen, and it happens quite aggressively. If lobbying happens even at the Oscars, then why wouldn't it happen here?]."The actor also shared that he considers a positive word by legendary actors like Naseeruddin Shah and the Om Puri his biggest awards. "Mere liye kya award hai ki Naseer bhai mujhe call karege 'Mumbai Meri Jaan' dekhna ke baad aur bolenge ki 'jiyo Paresh, kya kaam kiya hai'. Pet bhar jata hai. Om Puri sahab bolenge ki 'kya kaam kiya hai tune'... [For me, the real award is when Naseer bhai calls me after watching 'Mumbai Meri Jaan' and says, 'Well done, Paresh, what a performance.' That fills my heart. When Om Puri sahab says, 'What brilliant work you've done,' that's my true reward]," he said. Paresh Rawal also spoke about feeling 'suffocated' by his iconic character from 'Hera Pheri', and drinking his urine to treat an injury. The actor will next be seen in 'Welcome to the Jungle', which will be released later this year. He also has 'Thama' and 'Hera Pheri 3', among other films in the pipeline.Must Watch
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