Pankaj Tripathi with Mimi co-star Kriti Sanon. (courtesy: kritisanon)
New Delhi:
The 69th National Film Awards saw a momentous victory for the stars of “Mimi,” Kriti Sanon and Pankaj Tripathi. Kriti Sanon’s exceptional talent was celebrated as she shared the Best Actress Award with Alia Bhatt, honored for her role in “Gangubai Kathiawadi.” Meanwhile, Pankaj Tripathi’s outstanding performance in “Mimi” earned him the prestigious title of Best Supporting Actor.
Taking to Instagram to extend her warm regards, Kriti Sanon congratulated her co-star Pankaj Tripathi with heartfelt words. She penned, “Congratulations to my cherished Pankaj Tripathi Sir! Your father would undoubtedly be brimming with pride.” It’s worth noting that Pankaj Tripathi had recently faced a personal loss, with the passing of his father, Pandit Banaras Tiwari, at the remarkable age of 99.
The honor bestowed upon Pankaj Tripathi was dedicated to his late father, reflecting the poignant emotions of a period marked by loss and grief. Pankaj expressed his heartfelt sentiments, sharing, “This is regrettably a time of bereavement for me. In the presence of Babuji, his joy would have known no bounds. On my initial receipt of the National Award (for a special mention in ‘Newton’), his pride and delight were palpable. I wholeheartedly dedicate this National Award to him and his enduring spirit. Congratulations to Kriti as well, who also secures the Best Actress Award,” affirmed Pankaj Tripathi in a statement, as conveyed by news agency PTI.
Amidst personal tribulations, both Kriti Sanon and Pankaj Tripathi stand tall as luminous exemplars of cinematic brilliance, and their victories shine as a tribute to their remarkable performances and enduring spirits.
See Kriti Sanon’s note here:
Screenshot of Kriti Sanon’s Instagram story.
Pankaj Tripathi dedicated the award to his late father. “This is unfortunately a period of loss and grieving for me. If Babuji was around, he would have been really happy for me. When I first got the National Award (special mention for Newton), he was proud and pleased. I dedicate this National Award to him and his spirit. Kriti also has won the Best Actress, so a huge congratulations to her,” Pankaj Tripathi said in a statement, news agency PTI stated.
Meanwhile, its celebration time in the Sanon house. Kriti shared pictures of herself “surrounded by love and loved ones.”
Other then Mimi, Pankaj Tripathi and Kriti Sanon have previously worked together in films like Arjun Patiala, Luka Chuppi, Dilwale and Bareilly Ki Barfi.
Directed by Laxman Utekar and produced by Dinesh Vijan, Mimi is inspired by the 2010 Marathi movie Mala Aai Vhhaychy, which featured Samruddhi Porey, Urmila Kanitkar, Sulabha Deshpande and Stacy Bee in pivotal roles. The original film had also won a National Award for Best Feature Film in Marathi in the year 2011.