The 67th National Film Awards were announced recently and actors Dhanush, Kangana Ranaut, and the late Sushant Singh Rajput bagged top honours in the acting category. Actor Manoj Bajpayee also won his third National Award, this time for his 2020 film ‘Bhonsle’. In the year 2000, he had won the best supporting actor for ‘Satya’ and in 2005, a special jury award for ‘Pinjar’.
Directed by Devashish Makhija, the film sees the actor play the role of a retired Mumbai police officer who befriends a North Indian girl and her brother who are targeted for being migrants in the city.
The Indian Express quoted him saying, “I really think, this is not an award for me but for all of those guys who backed the film. Bhonsle completed its journey with this National Award, I am only feeling thankful and nothing else.”
HT quoted him recalling the 5-year-long struggle the filmmakers faced before its release saying,
“It is a mission, which has come full circle and completed its journey. It took us four years to arrange the finance, and my association with Devashish started because of this film. There was no taker or support we got in this industry, we have done it all alone, with the help of few people like Sandiip and Piiyush, and many producers who have put in little money into it. I really think this award is not only for me but all these guys.”
He added, “Many times in the past, I felt many of my deserving ones got somewhere left out, but Bhonsle getting it has completely covered or made me forget everything that I didn’t get in the past. I thank everyone.”
“It has happened in the past, my film Pinjar didn’t get any mention in any of the mainstream awards. Getting the National Award definitely makes you forget everything wrong that has happened in the past. But why think about it? You think about this, celebrate, be thankful to Almighty, to all the people who have shown so much belief.”
He is currently in quarantine due to COVID-19, we wish him a speedy recovery.