
Sanya Malhotra reacts to Kathal, Jawan, Sam Bahadur all winning National Award: When I found out…
'You know when I found out that all three were being honored with National Awards I had to take a moment. It's rare, and I don't take it for granted at all. It really makes me reflect on how important it is to trust your gut. As an actor, you don't always know how a project will be received you just go by what moves you, what excites you. And this has just reaffirmed that instinct for me in the most beautiful way,' she tells us.
Also read: Karan Johar congratulates Rani Mukerji, Shah Rukh for National Awards, calls it 'full circle moment'
Kathal won the National Award for Best Hindi feature film, while Shah Rukh Khan was awarded Best Actor for Jawan. Sam Bahadur won Best Feature Film Promoting National, Social, and Environmental Values, Best Makeup, and Best Costume Design.
Sanya, who led Kathal, adds, 'Honestly it still hasn't sunk in fully. Kathal winning the National Award for Best Hindi Feature Film is just… surreal. To be the face of a film like this that started as such an unusual, quirky story and to see it reach this kind of recognition, it's overwhelming. I'm so proud of the entire team, and I feel incredibly grateful to have been a part of this journey.'
Do awards matter a lot to the 33-year-old? She quips, 'I think awards can't define your worth as an artist but they definitely feel good especially when they come from a place of genuine appreciation. The National Award is just… different. It holds a very special place. It feels like the country acknowledging your work and that's a big, big deal. It's emotional. It's humbling.'

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Indian Express
25 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Kiara Advani bagged debut film with one audition; dreams of playing Madhubala on screen
Kiara Advani has steadily carved her path in the film industry, rising to become one of Bollywood's most bankable stars. With the recent release of War 2, the sixth installment in YRF's blockbuster Spy Universe, Kiara is once again in the headlines. Starring alongside heavyweights Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR, the film not only marks her entry into one of the biggest franchises in Indian cinema but also features her first-ever bikini scene, that has already gone viral. But long before the fame, big-banner films, and red carpets, Kiara's dream began at an age when most are still learning to walk. In an old interview with Good Times, Kiara recalled the moment she knew she was destined for the silver screen. 'I think I was about two when I knew this is what I wanted to do, I wanted to grow up and be an actor. I think it was because of all the Bollywood jhatka-matkas and watching Sridevi, Madhuri Dixit, and Kareena Kapoor on screen that made me realize this is exactly where I want to be and what I want to do. While growing up, my parents saw that in me. No matter what I was doing — studying or taking part in extracurriculars, I'd somehow end up back in my room, turning on the TV, dancing to their songs, and enacting their scenes. Eventually, my parents said, 'You know what? Finish your graduation, then go for it. Give it a try. Live your dream.'' Kiara Advani made her Bollywood debut in 2014 with Fugly. Reflecting on how she landed the role, Kiara shared, 'It was just one audition. I remember doing it, and right there and then, my director went back, saw the tape, and said, 'You're on.' I was taken aback because I had auditioned before for other projects, and for one reason or another, they hadn't worked out. So when he said, 'You're on, and we're going to start the contract process,' I was like, 'Wow, that happened so fast!' I even asked, 'Isn't there anyone else who needs to see it or be part of this decision?' He told me it was all done, my audition had been sent to the producer, she'd loved it, and she called him the very next day. Everything happened at breakneck speed, and before I knew it, I was in workshops and ready to roll for the film.' Also Read | How Kiara Advani achieved her bikini bod for War 2, reveals her nutritionist: Slept at 8 pm, had this protein treat for breakfast Through the years, Kiara has often spoken about the actors she grew up admiring. Among them, Kareena Kapoor holds a special place in her heart. 'Personally, I love Kareena Kapoor. I think the kind of films she's done, and the fact that she's completely her own person, is so inspiring. She puts up no pretences, and that's very endearing. There's a reason she's an icon.' When asked whose biopic she'd love to portray, Kiara didn't hesitate. 'I would really like to play Madhubala. I feel like I don't know enough about her, and I want to know a lot more. If I ever got that opportunity, I'd have to research her life, and that would be exciting.' In the same candid conversation, Kiara Advani also shared what qualities she looks for in a partner. 'I think he should be very confident about who he is, self-assured, working, witty, and humorous… all those qualities we all want in a man. Some might sound a little vain, like he should smell good and have those little cute quirks about him, but most importantly, he should be real and self-assured.' Kiara added that she wouldn't mind dating someone from Bollywood, something that would prove to be prophetic. Kiara met actor Sidharth Malhotra on the sets of Shershaah, where their on-screen chemistry sparked a real-life romance. The couple tied the knot on February 7, 2023, in a traditional Hindu ceremony in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. Just last month, the couple welcomed their first child, a baby girl.


Hindustan Times
25 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Sholay@50: When a film gave birth to Hindi cinema's most enduring villain in Gabbar Singh
New Delhi, When Salim-Javed envisioned "Sholay", the character to first take shape was that of a dreaded dacoit. Little did they imagine that the role played by a newcomer in an otherwise star-studded film would create cinema history. Sholay@50: When a film gave birth to Hindi cinema's most enduring villain in Gabbar Singh Gabbar Singh was unlike any antagonist audiences had seen before, portrayed to the T by Amjad Khan in his first major role in the industry a sadistic, unpredictable and merciless outlaw who killed without hesitation, mocked fear, and treated cruelty as a form of entertainment. Film historian, author and archivist, S M M Ausaja, said Khan's role was written brilliantly and performed with great panache by Khan. "There is an element of humour in him. It is a well etched out character by Salim-Javed. As a debut performance in a primary role, Amjad Khan was exceptionally good. If a character gets such a memorable impact across generations, then a big chunk goes to the performance of the actor," Ausaja told PTI. When Gabbar first appears on the screen, almost an hour into the movie, viewers see the shot of him walking on boulders, asking his henchmen, "Kitne aadmi the?" They had just returned empty-handed from their raid in Ramgarh, thwarted by the film's heroes Amitabh Bachchan's Jai and Dharmendra's Veeru. "Woh do the aur tum teen... phir bhi waapas aagaye... khaali haath... kya samajh kar aaye the? Sardar bahot khush hoga sabasi dega, kyoon? Dhikkar hai," Gabbar rages against eerie background music. Over the next two hours, he unleashes a reign of brutality on the village of Ramgarh, killing without remorse, breaking the spirit of its people, and emerging as the living embodiment of fear. In an interview with PTI, Akhtar said when they began working on the story, they had only a dacoit in mind. 'We didn't think of Basanti or Radha, we just had a dacoit in mind. But gradually when the story got developed a lot of characters came into the picture and we felt it could be a great multi-starrer." In the 2024 docuseries "Angry Young Men", which charted the legendary screenwriting pair's career in movies, Salim Khan revealed how Gabbar was inspired by a real character. "My father was a high ranking police officer. We heard stories of a dacoit named Gabbar Singh. He used to kill people and chop off their noses too. Anything inspired from real life has a distinct impact," he said in the docuseries. Their first choice for the character was actor Danny Denzongpa and he even signed him for the role. But he had to quit the movie and leave for overseas to shoot for Feroz Khan's "Dharamatma" as "Sholay" kept getting delayed. Both Bachchan and Sanjeev Kumar, who went on to play Thakur, wanted to take on the villainous part, sensing its potential impact. Bachchan fulfilled his wish with Ram Gopal Varma's much-derided "Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag" in 2007. At an event years ago, Bachchan recalled how he wanted to play Gabbar after he heard the script. "I told Salim-Javed that I want to play Gabbar. And whoever listened to the story, they all wanted to play the part because it was great character. But in the end, Ramesh ji said that I will play Jai, not Gabbar. "Amjad Khan walked on the set and he was recommended by Salim and Javed sahab. They had seen him perform on stage and were familiar with his work. I never thought that he won't be able to do justice to the character. Though many people felt in the initial days that his voice was not appropriate but that voice became popular," he said. In her 2000 book "Sholay: The Making of a Classic", film journalist Anupama Chopra wrote that Amjad Khan, the younger son of renowned actor Jayant, was struggling at the time. But he had a strong presence in theatre which is where Akhtar spotted him first. But it was Salim Khan who approached the actor for the role as he knew his father. They had bumped into each other on Bandra bandstand. "Salim had heard about Amjad's skills as an actor, and physically he seemed to fit the role. 'I can't promise you anything,' he told Amjad, 'but there is a role in a big film. I'll take you to the director. Agar aapko yeh role mil jaaye, aapki koshish se ya aapki kismat se , I tell you, it is the finest," she wrote, recalling their conversation. The actor grew a beard and blackened his teeth, taking a deep dive into the character that would bring him immense popularity. He followed it up with more villainous parts in movies such as "Inkaar", "Satte Pe Satta", "Hum Kisise Kum Nahin" and "Naseeb". Trying to decode Gabbar's popularity among children as well as adults, Akhtar said it probably had something to do with how free he was from morality or fear. "Why did children liked Gabbar Singh? Even adults liked him. A ruthless man who had no emotional or moral justification for his cruelty. He's totally free from morality, which is tightly wrapped around us like a rope. On some subconscious level, we admire that this person is free," he said in the docu-series. With his catchy rhetorical questions, crazy laughter and boastfulness, Gabbar is a villain that lives on. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.


The Hindu
25 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Desh Ek Raag 2.0 pays musical tribute to the nation on Independence Day
ITC Sangeet Research Academy (ITC SRA) returns with Desh Ek Raag 2.0, a soulful musical tribute to India on the occasion of its 79th Independence Day. Building on the success of last year's release, Desh Ek Raag, which brought together gurus, scholars and students in a heart-touching rendition, this track too celebrates the rich legacy of Indian classical arts along with the message of unity. Inspired by raag Desh and immortalised through the patriotic strains of Vande Maataram, it highlights the message of unity in diversity through seamless collaboration among different art forms. According to veteran ITC-SRA Guru and renowned Hindustani vocalist Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty, 'Over the decades, the institution, with the patronage of ITC, has been training young enthusiasts in various musical forms. Desh Ek Raag 2 pays tribute to the nation through the age-old guru-sishya parampara. The initiative aims to communicate the values and significance of this tradition to a wider digital audience, emphasising its enduring relevance.' Talking about the experience of working on the project, ITC-SRA guru, sarod exponent and the music director of Desh Ek Raag 2 Abir Hossain said, 'Projects like these remind us the power of music in uniting people and expressing the spirit of our nation. This year, I chose to bring together a completely new team of talented young scholars and faculty members of the institution along with other gurus and artistes. They have lent their unique artistry to the project. Desh Ek Raag 2 features a formidable line up of artistes, including Pt. Ajoy Chakrabarty, Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar, Pt. Partha Chatterjee, Subhra Guha, Pt. Uday Bhawalkar, Omkar Dadarkar, Brajeswar Mukherjee and Pt. Suresh Talwalkar. The singing is accompanied by Sarwar Hussain on the sarangi, Band Prithibi has given the Indian classical set up a touch of the contemporary with its orchestration. Desh Ek Raag 2 has been recorded at ITCSRA's state-of-the-art studio by Avee Bhattacharya. The Music Video has been directed by Chandrasish Ray, a budding Indian Filmmaker, and it is presented in collaboration with creative agency Genesis Advertising Pvt Ltd, Kolkata. Sanjiv Puri, chairman, ITC, which has backed the project, said, 'the company takes great pride in being part of initiatives that foster time-tested values of unity and compassion, while preserving the country's cultural heritage.' Recorded at ITC-SRA's state-of-the-art studio by Avee Bhattacharya, Desh Ek Raag 2, which has been directed by young filmmaker Chandrasish Ray,also marks the institution's 50-year journey in working towards the cause of art and culture.