12-06-2025
Kartik Aaryan, Katrina Kaif, 'Pathaan' director Siddharth Anand win big at the New York Indie Film Festival
The actress told Firstpost, 'My preparation started when Sriram Raghavan told me about the story during the narration because I had first read the book and had fallen in love with that story.' read more
One of the most prestigious showcases for independent cinema globally, the Indie Film Festival in New York is known for spotlighting powerful, artistic, and culturally rooted storytelling. This year, Indian cinema dominated the global stage, with multiple awardees across major categories, led by standout wins for Chandu Champion, Binny and Family, filmmaker Siddharth Anand, Kartik Aaryan, and Katrina Kaif.
Kartik Aaryan won Best Actor for his transformative role in Chandu Champion, which also bagged the coveted Best Film award. Katrina Kaif took home Best Actress for her performance in Merry Christmas. Joining the victory lap was Mahaveer Jain Films' Binny and Family, a moving family drama that earned the Best Family Film award, while Anjini Dhawan was named Best Debutante Female for her performance as Binny. Filmmaker Siddharth Anand was honored with Best Director for his 'Fighter'.
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Katrina Kaif on her prep for Merry Christmas
The actress told Firstpost, 'My preparation started when Sriram Raghavan told me about the story during the narration because I had first read the book and had fallen in love with that story. Sriram also felt this could be the perfect collaboration we could do together. When he narrated the whole story, the first thing I did was that I went home and wrote a whole backstory.'
'Who was Maria? What drove her to take this decision? What has happened to her inner self and why does she fall for this guy? Why is her relationship with her husband like this? The best thing about Sriram is that he challenges you to keep thinking. I don't think he even realizes how much he challenges you. He forces you to find honesty and connection to your character,' added Kaif.