69th National Film Awards: Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Vivek Agnihotri and Pallavi Joshi express gratitude for their big win

In Pic: Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Vivek Agnihotri

The 69th National Film Awards has been announced. Gangubai Kathawadi, directed by Sanjay Leena Bhansali, received five National Film Awards, including Best Actress for Alia Bhatt. In addition, during the 69th National Film Awards, Vivek Agnihotri's film The Kashmir Files received the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Film on National Integration. While Sanjay Leela Bhansali shared his happiness for the big win, both Vivek and Pallavi Joshi dedicated the award to the victims of the 1990 Kashmir genocide.

"I'm happy for everybody who has won, my film and other films, and everybody, who has won. Good cinema gets acknowledged and a pat on the back from the government, and nationally and from a respectful jury, it always brings you joy," said Sanjay Leela Bhansali as Gangubai Kathiawadi won 5 awards at the 69th National Films Awards 2023.

"As far as cinema is celebrated from all over India, it is a wonderful moment for all of us. I'm too happy," he added.

Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri while expressing his happiness said, "I am in America and I started receiving calls from my friends from where I came to know that 'The Kashmir Files' has won the 69th National Film Awards in the category of National Integration Award. National Award is the prestigious award of India. Since starting I have been saying that The Kashmir Files is not my film and I was the only medium. This award I am dedicating this on behalf of our IamBuddha Production Company to all the victims of terrorists especially to the Kashmiri Hindus and besides that, in the whole corner of the world the Hindus who are facing terrorism, and this film is their voice, their sufferings so it belongs to them."

While his wife Pallavi Joshi shared, "I am in Chicago right now for the promotion of our new film 'The Vaccine War'. I am very happy about winning this award, of course, every actor will be happy but I am happier that our film won the 69th National Award in the category of Best National Integration because that is very important for us. I dedicate this award to the entire Kashmiri Pundit community and all the prosecuted communities in the world who have suffered at the hands of terrorism"