Bittersweet Feelings of Anupam Kher for ‘The Kashmir Files’ Winning National Award and Not Winning One for His Performance

Actor Anupam Kher is elated his film ‘The Kashmir Files’ won the National award. However, we can say he was a bit sad as he expressed his incomplete wish to win a National award for his ‘The Kashmir Files’ performance, which he states is his best performance.


However, he is more than happy that ‘The Kashmir Files’ won the National Award and it’s more special, as it is acknowledged as the Best Feature Film on National Integration.


Anupam Kher states thanking the jury, “We had high hopes about it winning the National award because when you do your best work, you expect things to be happening. But whatever happened following the release, we never expected to win in this category. (Director) Vivek Agnihotri is not in the country at the moment but I can speak on his behalf and say that we never expected to win in this category after all that happened. This national award has answered every person who doubted the intention of this film. The honour in this category has put a double smile on our faces.”

Kher adds, “Sometimes you don’t even want to give a slap to people who thought otherwise. It’s the time for celebration and we want to continue doing it.” When questioned if he sees this as a response to everyone who branded it a propaganda project.

Furthermore, his one desire is still unfulfilled, which is him receiving an award for his performance in the movie. Kher remarks positively, “ I would have loved to win a National Award for my acting, too because this is undoubtedly one of my finest performances. But like I mentioned, agar saari khwaishein poori hojaein to aage kaam karne ka maza kaise aayega.”

Not only this, but he also congratulates all the winners and adds, “Sometimes when you don’t win an award, the only thing you have to show is grace. It is not about undermining the person who has won it. Whether it’s Allu Arjun (Best Actor for Pushpa) or Pankaj Tripathi (Best Supporting Actor for Mimi), all of them are very talented actors and deserve all the appreciation and recognition. But I am very objective when it comes to performance and The Kashmir Files was one of my best performances. There are three-four categories that they give awards for. So it would have been nice. But again I would say that it’s not a complaint but just an observation.”

Anupam Kher reveals that along with working as an actor, he was an Executive Producer for the movie as well. He claims, “I had requested Vivek to give me the title of executive producer and he was gracious enough to do that. I wanted that because I am also a Kashmiri Pandit. But we never talked about it,” he says. But, he decided to share it now that he feels he is “part of winning this special category award.”

He dedicates the award to the people who experienced extreme turmoil 32 years ago and weren’t given recognition. “And to people who lost their lives, people who left their homes, and all those for whom the film was made. This award is for all of them,” he ends.

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