Shishir Sharma: Awards are a wonderful recognition of our efforts as artists

Veteran actor Shishir Sharma has added another feather to his cap, winning the Best Actor (Male) award at the recently concluded DC South Asian Film Festival (DCSAFF) in Washington DC for his moving performance in Kuch Sapney Apne. The role, in which he plays a stern patriarch whose worldview shifts as he confronts his gay son’s truth and his wife’s fight for LGBTQ+ rights, has struck a deep chord with audiences worldwide.This marks Sharma’s second Best Actor award for the film—he earlier won at the New Bedford International Film Festival, where the film also bagged Best Screenplay for its writer-directors Sridhar Rangayan and Saagar Gupta.“A wonderful recognition”Expressing gratitude, Sharma said, “Kuch Sapne Apne’ has been a journey that has been an emotion, difficult to be expressed in words. Having worked with Sridhar and Saagar during my TV days and also with Mona Ambegaonkar, the bond that we shared then was revived with this film, when I played the character of Damodar. The screening at the DCSAFF in Washington was received very well and appreciated, but it was beyond my imagination that I would receive the Best Actor award for this film. This is a wonderful recognition of our efforts as artists. Thanks to the organizers and jury members for this award, and to Sridhar and Saagar and the entire cast for the magnificent support throughout the making of this gem of a film.”“Icing on the cake” for filmmakersFilmmaker Sridhar Rangayan, who attended the screening along with Sharma, called the award a milestone. “We are overwhelmed by the awesome audience response to the film, with so many men, women and trans folks coming up and saying beautiful things about the film after the screening. What more does a filmmaker need. But lead actor Shishir Sharma winning the Best Actor award was icing on the cake. This award at a mainstream festival is a testament that good films always shines, whatever the genre maybe. We sincerely hope the film gets a mainstream release, so more people can watch the film", said Rangayan, “We sincerely want to thank the organizers and jury members of the festival for this splendid honour", he added.Festival praiseFestival director Manoj Singh lauded Sharma’s versatility. “The 14th Annual DC South Asian Film Festival is proud to present the Best Actor Male Award to Shishir Sharma for his powerful performance in Kuch Sapney Apne. The film was well-received for its bold portrayal of social issues within a patriarchal and conservative society. We also screened two of his short films, Qafas and Chashma, and his exceptional work across all three was deeply appreciated by audiences and critics alike,” he said.Audience reactionsThe film’s sensitive storytelling has earned widespread acclaim. Filmmaker Prerna Saraff Chauhan described it as unforgettable: “Once in a while you watch a film that stays with you even after the dust settles. For me, the two stars of the film are the strong screenplay by Saagar Gupta and the powerhouse that Shishir ji is in a completely different role.”Another festival goer added, “I loved ‘Kuch Sapney Apne’! It tackled so many critical issues with great subtlety while keeping it entertaining. Hats off to the director, the actors, and the whole team.”A film making waves globallyKuch Sapney Apne has so far won 12 international awards and screened at 24 international film festivals worldwide. Written and directed by Rangayan and Gupta, the film stars Shishir Sharma, Mona Ambegaonkar, Satvik Bhatia and Arpit Chaudhary, along with a strong ensemble cast.The romantic drama follows the relationship of Kartik and Aman, tested by infidelity and family strife, while also delving into the fractures in Kartik’s parents’ marriage. With songs by Rekha and Vishal Bhardwaj, Shaan, Shashwat Singh, and Sushant Divgikar, and music composed in part by Vishal Bhardwaj himself, the film weaves together music, performance and storytelling to present a heartfelt narrative about love and acceptance.