For actor Pankaj Tripathi, who received the Best Supporting Actor National Film Award only a few days after losing his father, it’s a bittersweet occasion. For his work in Laxman Utekar’s Mimi, Tripathi received the honour. Kriti Sanon, the movie’s leading lady, won the Best Actress prize as well.
Tripathi mourned his late father while being pleased to accept the prize. Tripathi released a statement in which he shared his feelings, “This is unfortunately a period of loss and grieving for me. If Babuji was around, he would have been really happy for me. When I first got the National Award mention, he was very proud and pleased. This National Award I dedicate to him and his spirit. I’m who I’m today because of him. I’m at a loss of words due to this time but I’m happy and grateful to the team. Kriti also has won the Best Actress, so a huge congratulations to her,” averred the actor.
Mimi, directed by Laxman Utekar and produced by Dinesh Vijan for Maddock Films, was released in 2021. It was a 2011 Marathi film adaptation of the same name, starring Kriti Sanon as the titular character who decides to become a surrogate mother for an international marriage.
The movie also stars Sai Tamhankar, Manoj Pahwa, Supriya Pathak, Evelyn Edwards, and Aidan Whytock in addition to Pankaj Tripathi.
On Wednesday, Allu Arjun received Best Actor for Pushpa: The Rise, and Pankaj Tripathi took home the Best Supporting Actor honour. Alia Bhatt and Kriti Sanon both received the Best Actress National Award for their work in Gangubai Kathiawadi and Mimi respectively.