Manasi Parekh recently won the National Film Award for Best Actress for her role in the Gujarati film Kutch Express. She shared this prestigious honor with South Indian actress Nithya Menen. In an exclusive interview with IndiaToday.in, Manasi opened up about the overwhelming experience and what it means for regional cinema.
Manasi Parekh described her reaction to receiving the award as deeply emotional. “I’ve been crying ever since I received the Best Actress award. I’ve been inundated with calls and messages, and I’ve been crying for like an hour and a half. Now I’m okay. My makeup is completely dissolved,” she shared.
She expressed her gratitude for sharing the accolade with Nithya Menen, emphasizing the significance of regional representation. “The fact that I got Best Actress and I’m sharing it with Nithya Menen, another incredible regional actress, is incredible. Last year, the award was shared by Alia Bhatt and Kriti Sanon. This year, it’s two regional actresses. It is a big deal,” Manasi noted.
Manasi reflected on the journey of Kutch Express, a film she co-produced with her husband, Parthiv Gohil. “The film was produced by me and my husband, so it touches on another level. We always felt it was going to be something magical,” she recalled. “Even Ratna Pathak Shah, who is such a veteran, came to me five days into the shoot and expressed her pride in being part of her first Gujarati film. All of us felt this was a very special film, and now the National Award has validated that,” she added.
Discussing the broader implications of regional cinema being honored on a national level, Manasi emphasized the need for wider distribution. “I wish regional cinema was distributed across the country, not just in the regions and languages it is specific to,” she said. “I would have loved Kutch Express to be released across the country, not just in Gujarat and Mumbai. But due to high distribution costs, it’s challenging for Gujarati producers to make that happen.”
Manasi expressed hope that the success of Malayalam films in other parts of India could pave the way for more regional films to reach a national audience. “Recognition like this helps not just me, but the whole industry. Regional cinema is where the stories, characters, and complexities are,” she added.
Manasi shared that winning the award with Parthiv was a deeply personal and fulfilling experience. “Parthiv and I were crying. We know how hard we worked. He was behind the scenes as a producer, while I was acting in the film. Sharing this special moment as husband and wife, and co-producers, is as overwhelming as when I gave birth to my daughter. It’s a feeling I will always cherish,” she concluded.
Directed by Viral Shah, Kutch Express also stars Ratna Pathak Shah, Dharmendra Gohil, Darsheel Safary, and Viraf Patell in key roles.