After being delayed due to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the 66th National Film Awards were announced in New Delhi on Friday, 9 August.
Uri, Andhadhun, Badhaai Ho and PadMan were among the winners from Bollywood. Uri bagged the National Award for Best Actor, which went to Vicky Kaushal, and Best Director, which was given to Aditya Dhar.
The josh was high for an ecstatic Dhar and Vicky Kaushal, who thanked the members of the National Award committee. Aditya Dhar said:
“15 years of failures, rejections and hard work has lead to this moment and it just can’t get better than this. Being conferred with the National Award has been a dream since the time I understood what films meant to me, and films truly mean the world to me.”Aditya Dhar, Director
He thanked his family and friends as well as the film’s producer, Ronnie Screwvala, for their support. He also dedicated his award to “each and every brave soldier of the country”. “Thank you for all your sacrifices. You have selflessly dedicated your life to serve us and now it’s our time to dedicate everything we have to serve you,” he added in their honour.
Vicky Kaushal also took to Twitter to share his happiness.
He said, “For my work to be recognised by the honourable National Film Awards is truly a moving moment for me and my family. I am very happy to be sharing the award with someone whom I admire, both as a person and as an actor. Ayushmann, congratulations brother!”
Even Yami Gautam congratulated the team for the big win.
Uri, which released on 11 January, is based on the retaliatory surgical strikes carried out by the Indian army in POK in 2016. The film, which stars Vicky Kaushal, Yami Gautam, Paresh Rawal and Mohit Raina, is one of the highest grossers of 2019, having raked in a lifetime collection of Rs 245.36 crores at the Indian box office.
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