The 60th edition of the Indian National Awards was held in Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Friday evening. The award ceremony, which is deemed to be the highest form of honor, was given out cinematic geniuses for their exemplary contribution to cinema and films. The evening which was a star studded affair saw the bonding of many awardees who were visibly cheerful all evening.
Actress Parineeti Chopra, who debuted in a lead role with Ishaqzaade opposite Arjun Kapoor earned a special mention at the National Awards this year. Dressed in a red Manish Malhotra dress, the actress gleamed through the evening with her eyes shining with pride and mirth.
UTV CEO, Siddharth Roy Kapur who is reaching his company to commendable glories lately, takes credit for standing by Tigmanshu Dhulia’s unusual biopic Paan Singh Tomar that starred Irrfan Khan. While Irrfan bagged the Best Actor award for the film, duly, for carrying the entire venture single handedly, the film was lauded and acclaimed as one of Bollywood’s best works till date. Kapur, who was personally present to cheer for the film, was seen bonding with actor Irrfan Khan and director Tigmanshu Dhulia. He appeared in his handsome best wearing a snuff colored kurta.
Actors Irrfan Khan and John Abraham were caught by the shutterbugs exchanging a pleasant moment. John, who was present to receive the award for Vicky Donor, was seen gelling well with Khan. An inexplicable actor of international repute, Khan is known for humble and warm demeanor by most Industry insiders.
Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who left an indomitable impression on the audiences with his minimal verbal acting in Dibakar Banerjee’s short film from Bombay Talkies, that released this Friday, he was present to claim the award he earned for his brilliant role in Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs of Wasseypur. Suited up and boasting a beard, a glimpse of Nawazuddin drips of the actor’s passion and intensity on celluloid.
Director Sujoy Ghosh who made Indian cinema glisten with his brilliant story telling in Kahaani too received the National Award for best Screenplay. Dressed smartly in turquoise blue, it indeed appeared to be his joyful moment.
Actor John Abraham received the award for Vicky Donor being the year’s ‘Most Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment’. He was present with his girlfriend Priya Runchal for the ceremony. Runchal, who is away from the world of glitterati, got a taste of Bollywood at the ceremony on Friday. Dressed in a gold anarkali, while John sported a black bandhgala, she was ecstatic when John went on stage to receive his award. She constantly clicked pictures of him on stage and her contagious happiness was more than evident.
Irrfan Khan, who wore a steel grey achkan for the ceremony, proudly went on stage to take his award for the Best Actor category. Unparalleled in his work, Khan truly deserved the acclaim that has been showered on him by the critics and audiences alike.
While this is the most prestigious awards on board, they were handed out by President Pranab Mukherjee in the presence of Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology Kapil Sibal and Manish Tewari who holds the Union level post of Information and Broadcasting Ministry. Also present at the event were lyricist Prasoon Joshi, actor Annu Kapoor, musician Shankar Mahadevan and actor Javed Jaffrey.