Actors Sanjay Mishra and Randeep Hooda have shared their reactions after being honoured at the 72nd National Film Awards. Sanjay Mishra received the Best Supporting Actor award for his performance in Bhakshak. Randeep Hooda, meanwhile, won the Best Debut Director award for ‘Swatantrya Veer Savarkar’. Sanjay earned the acting honour for portraying a veteran cameraman in ‘Bhakshak’. Randeep was recognised for directing Swatantrya Veer Savarkar, a project in which he also played the lead role and served as co-writer.
Sanjay Mishra opens up on clinching the National Award
After the winners were announced, Sanjay Mishra thanked the National Award jury for the recognition. He also recalled a deeply personal memory connected to the announcement. The actor said hearing the news through the Press Information Bureau reminded him of his late father, who had once worked there. As reported by The Hindu, he said, “Today, the news of the National Award also came from Press Information Bureau. It touched my heart.” Sanjay also looked back on his three-decade journey in the film industry. He said the honour belonged to everyone who had contributed to his career over the years, including filmmakers, writers, technicians, fellow actors and audiences.Mishra added, “For over three decades, I have tried to be honest to every character that came my way. This honour belongs as much to the directors, producers, writers, technicians and fellow actors I have had the privilege of working with as it does to the audience, who have embraced my work with so much love over the years. I remain deeply grateful.”Directed by Pulkit, ‘Bhakshak’ premiered on OTT in 2024. The film features Bhumi Pednekar in the lead role, while Sanjay Mishra plays an experienced cameraman who assists investigative journalist Vaishali Singh during a sensitive investigation.
Randeep Hooda calls the National Award win a personal victory
For Randeep Hooda, the National Award marks a memorable achievement as a filmmaker. ‘Swatantrya Veer Savarkar’ was his first directorial venture. Along with directing the film, he portrayed Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and also contributed to the screenplay. Sharing his reaction, Randeep said the project demanded more from him than any previous work. He described the filmmaking journey as difficult but rewarding.He said in a statement, “It is a moment I’m still trying to process. This film asked more of me than anything I’ve ever done. The journey of this film was filled with challenges at every juncture, but I’m glad we saw it through and overcame each of those. And despite that, somehow we kept finding the strength to move forward. As an actor, co-writer and first-time director, I gave this film everything I had because I felt an immense responsibility towards telling Veer Savarkar’s story with sincerity and honesty.“Randeep also credited the entire team for standing by the project through every challenge. He said the award belonged to everyone involved in bringing the film to life and hoped it would encourage younger audiences to learn more about Veer Savarkar’s life. He said, “This recognition belongs to all of us, and I hope it inspires more people, especially the younger generation, to discover and reflect on Veer Savarkar’s legacy.“The 72nd National Film Awards honoured films certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) during the 2024 calendar year. Among the major winners, Mammootty and Kartik Aaryan shared the Best Actor award for Bramayugam and Chandu Champion, while Yami Gautam won Best Actress for Article 370. The film also received the Best Feature Film honour, making it one of the biggest winners of the ceremony.