Top Focus/ 69th National Awards: Pankaj Tripathi dedicates Best Supporting Actor honour to his late father

Pankaj Tripathi was bestowed with the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Mimi at the presentation ceremony held today, October 17, at the Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. The actor played an impactful role of a "kind-hearted" taxi driver in the movie. As he celebrated his victory, the actor dedicated the award to his late father, Pandit Benaras Tripathi, who died on August 21, earlier this year.

2 things you need to know

• Pankaj's Mimi co-star Kriti Sanon won the National Award for Best Actress for her titular role in the movie. She shared the honour with Alia Bhatt.
   
• President Droupadi Murmu conferred the winners with the honour at the 69th National Film Awards ceremony.

Pankaj Tripathi dedicates his big win to his father

Pankaj Tripathi expressed his happiness over winning his second National Film Award as he said, "This is my second National Film Award. I am very happy. I was just working hard in life and everything else followed." Earlier, Tripathi's performance in Newton (2017) won him the National Film Award – Special Mention. 

At the red carpet, Kriti Sanon praised her Mimi co-star Tripathi and said, “Some of my best films have been with him. I am excited for him to win the award. I have a great equation with him and there is a lot of respect and comfort between us. Even our impromptu moments make it to the trailer. I'm dying to work with him again.” Mimi is the actors' second collaboration after Bareilly Ki Barfi (2017).

69th National Awards ceremony details

On Tuesday, the National Film Awards ceremony were held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. Several winners, including Alia Bhatt, Kriti Sanon, SS Rajamouli, MM Keeravaani, R Madhavan and Allu Arjun, flew down to the national capital with their families and friends to attend the ceremony. President Droupadi Murmu presented the awards to the winners.