Veteran actress Sharmila Tagore expressed her joy and gratitude following her film “Gulmohar” receiving a National Film Award. The film, which garnered significant audience appreciation upon its release on Disney+ Hotstar in 2023, has now been honored with the Best Hindi Film award and Best Dialogue Writing for its director, Rahul V Chittella. In addition, Manoj Bajpayee, who portrayed Tagore’s eldest son, received a special mention for his performance.
Tagore, who has had a storied career in Indian cinema, likened the recognition from the National Film Awards to “the icing on the cake” after the film’s widespread acclaim. “This film received so much love from the audience and so many awards from different platforms. Now, this National Award is the icing on the cake. I feel over the moon,” said the 79-year-old actress.
Reflecting on the journey of making “Gulmohar,” Tagore shared that filming during the Covid-19 pandemic in Delhi brought the cast and crew closer. “There’s so much friendship among us that everybody is happy for each other. Manoj is happy for me, I’m happy for Manoj,” she added. Tagore also mentioned that the cast and crew remain in close contact, with many reaching out to congratulate her on the award.
The actress revealed that the team plans to reunite and celebrate their success. “We’ve told Rahul that he has to organize something so that all of us can meet and enjoy ourselves. That’s something I’ll keep pushing for until we do it. We must celebrate,” she emphasized.
Following “Gulmohar,” Tagore has been involved in the Bengali film “Puratawn,” which is slated for release by the end of January. Looking ahead, she expressed her desire to continue acting, but stressed the importance of meaningful roles. “If a good script comes along, of course, I will work. But it has to suit me, especially after ‘Gulmohar,'” she said. Tagore hopes to keep working “till my dying day” but insists that the quality of the roles must align with her artistic standards.
