Manoj Bajpayee Wins His Fourth National Award for Family Drama ‘Gulmohar’

Actor Manoj Bajpayee received his fourth National Film Award for the movie ‘Gulmohar.’

The award was presented to him by President Droupadi Murmu, at the 70th National Film Awards ceremony, at Vigyan Bhawan in the national capital.

During an interview with ANI, the actor expressed gratitude for receiving the award. He thanked the director and the co-stars of Gulmohar.

“It is a huge thing when such a small film makes its presence felt at National film award…I feel honoured. Also, I can’t take all the credit myself. I thank my director, who offered me this film, and all the people who worked with me, all the co-actors who supported my work. I also express gratitude to my audience for showering love on me,” he said.

The movie directed by Rahul V Chittella, is about the Batra family who are moving out of their 34 year old family home ‘Gulmohar.’ It is during this time they rediscover their family bonds riddled with insecurities and secrets.

The film also stars Sharmila Tagore, Simran, and Suraj Sharma in the lead roles.

Prior to this, Bajpayee won national awards as best actor in Bhonsle (2021), best supporting actor in Satya (1999) and a Special Jury Award for Pinjar (2004).

The actor, who hails from the state of Bihar, got his breakthrough role in Ram Gopal Varma’s crime drama ‘Satya’, where he plays a gangster.

Bajpayee is known for his versatility in acting. He effortlessly portrays a variety of roles, be it the middle-class man Srikant Tiwari from ‘The Family Man’ who works for the intelligence, the terminally ill Mumbai cop in ‘Bhonsle’, or gangster Bhiku Matre, the man in the Mumbai underworld.

Many Indian directors have expressed that they love to work with him. Director Ram Gopal Varma considers him to be “an education” for himself and said he is “simply the best actor I've ever worked with.” Shekhar Kapur who worked with Manoj in ‘Bandit Queen’ explained, “Manoj had the ability to portray a lot just by doing little. He never tried to overplay a scene and seemed totally comfortable with a minimalist statement.”