New Delhi, August 24th: Allu Arjun, the Tollywood sensation, has clinched the prestigious Best Actor award at the 69th National Film Awards for his remarkable performance in ‘Pushpa: The Rise.’ Meanwhile, Bollywood’s leading actresses Alia Bhatt and Kriti Sanon have also been honored with the Best Actress Award for their outstanding roles in ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’ and ‘Mimi,’ respectively.
This celebrated event featured an astounding competition with 280 films from 28 languages contending for various coveted awards. The awards ceremony took place at the National Media Centre in the capital.
The 2022 release ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi,’ directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, vividly portrays the life of Gangubai Kothewali, a character immortalized in ‘Mafia Queens of Mumbai’ by S. Hussain Zaidi. Alia Bhatt, in the lead role, delivers a compelling performance, supported by a stellar cast including Shantanu Maheshwari, Vijay Raaz, Jim Sarbh, and Ajay Devgn. The film recounts the extraordinary journey of a young Kathiawadi girl who, driven by circumstances, seizes control of her destiny and shapes it to her advantage.
‘Pushpa: The Rise – Part 01,’ a Telugu-language action drama directed by Sukumar, showcases Allu Arjun as Pushpa Raj, a coolie embroiled in the perilous world of red sandalwood smuggling. This rare wood is found exclusively in the Seshachalam Hills of Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh.
In the domain of comedy-drama, ‘Mimi,’ directed by Laxman Utekar, has made a lasting impact. This film, a remake of the 2011 Marathi classic ‘Mala Aai Vhhaychy!,’ features Kriti Sanon delivering an exceptional performance as a surrogate mother for a foreign couple. The ensemble cast includes Pankaj Tripathi, Sai Tamhankar, Manoj Pahwa, and Supriya Pathak.
