Manasi Parekh Goes Ecstatic On National Award Win, Shares ‘This Is Just The Beginning’

Manasi Parekh expressed a deep sense of recognition and appreciation for her work after winning the National Film Award for Best Actress on Saturday.

The National Film Awards for 2022 were announced on Friday, with Parekh being honored for her role in the Gujarati film ‘Kutch Express’. She shared the award with Nithya Menen, who was recognized for her performance in the Tamil movie ‘Thiruchitrambalam’.

Manasi Parekh on her National Award win

Parekh, reflecting on the significance of the award, noted that it came in the 20th year of her career—a milestone she will never forget. Her journey began with roles in popular daily soaps like ‘India Calling’ and ‘Kasautii Zindagii Kay’ before she transitioned to Gujarati cinema, featuring in films such as ‘Golkeri’ and ‘Dear Father’.

In an Instagram post, Parekh wrote, “I completed 20 years as an actor this year, and August 16, 2024, will be a day etched in my mind forever.” She recalled how filmmaker-actor Anand Tiwari was the first to inform her of the award, leading her to jump out of her makeup chair in disbelief as she was flooded with congratulatory messages. “I cried. I cried hard and loud,” she shared, comparing her reaction to that of her character Monghi in ‘Kutch Express’, who has a similar emotional outburst when her world collapses.

Parekh reflected on her years of struggle, insecurities, and the long wait to be recognized. She recalled the moments when she was told she wasn’t good enough and the times she held on with silent patience, driven by her conviction that she had what it took to succeed.

About Kutch Express

‘Kutch Express’, directed by Viral Shah and also starring Ratna Pathak Shah, tells the story of Monghi, a homemaker whose life is shattered when she discovers her husband is having an affair with a colleague. The film also won awards for Best Costume Design for Niki Joshi and Best Feature Film Promoting National, Social, and Environmental Values.

Parekh described the award as a moment of validation, where real life and reel life merged. “It was the utter satisfaction an artist gets when their work is applauded. The same reaction my character Monghi has when she signs her first wall mural in the film,” she wrote. Waking up to see her name alongside industry veterans like Manoj Bajpayee, Rishab Shetty, and Nithya Menen in leading national dailies made her realize that dreams do come true. “This is just the beginning,” she concluded.

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