Neena Gupta Wins National Award for 'Uunchai'

Veteran actress Neena Gupta wins the National Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in 'Uunchai'. In an exclusive interview, she expressed gratitude and surprise. The film, directed by Sooraj Barjatya, tells the story of friendship and ambition, featuring a stellar ensemble cast.

Veteran actress Neena Gupta has added another accolade to her illustrious career by clinching the National Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in 'Uunchai'. In an exclusive interview with ANI, Gupta expressed her surprise and gratitude for the esteemed recognition.

"Not at all. It is a big surprise for me because it has been a long time since the film came out. I didn't even know when the National Awards happen. I had no idea about it. I'm very thankful to get this award because a National Award is a big deal," Gupta stated. Speaking on the film's significance, she added, "'Uunchai' is a very special film for me. First, I worked with really good actors from the film industry. It was my dream to work with Sooraj ji, and I am very happy he also got an award. It was a very special film for me."

The winners of the 70th National Film Awards were announced on Friday in the national capital. The jury panel included Rahul Rawail as the Chairperson of the Feature Film Jury; Nila Madhab Panda, Chairperson of the Non-Feature Film Jury; and Gangadhar Mudalair, Chairperson of the Best Writing on Cinema Jury. 'Uunchai' tells the story of the friendship among Boman Irani, Amitabh Bachchan, Danny Denzongpa, and Anupam Kher's characters, and features Gupta, Sarika, and Parineeti Chopra in prominent roles.

The movie depicts Amitabh Bachchan, Boman Irani, Anupam Kher, and Danny Denzongpa discussing the ambitious idea of climbing Mount Everest. However, Danny's character passes away before a decision is made, prompting his friends to fulfill his wish and immerse his ashes at Mount Everest. Parineeti Chopra plays the trainer who assists them in this endeavor, and they ultimately succeed, accompanied by Neena and Sarika. The film also marked the directorial return of Sooraj Barjatya after his 2015 family drama 'Prem Ratan Dhan Payo'.