‘Is Gujarat in Bangladesh or Pakistan?': Paresh Rawal defends 72nd National Film Awards being held in Kevadia instead of Delhi, says ceremony should take place in every state

Veteran actor Paresh Rawal has defended the decision to host the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony in Gujarat, saying there is nothing unusual about taking one of the country’s biggest cinematic events beyond the national capital. The ceremony is scheduled to take place in Kevadia, Gujarat, on September 22. Speaking to ANI, Rawal said that Gujarat is an integral part of India and argued that national events should be held across different states rather than being limited to Delhi.Paresh Rawal on National Film Awards being held in GujaratAddressing the decision to shift the National Film Awards ceremony from its traditional venue in the national capital, Rawal said, “Is Gujarat in Bangladesh or Pakistan? It is also a part of our own country. Why shouldn't this event be held in Gujarat? Events should be held in Gujarat too... I say such events should take place in every state. There is nothing wrong with that...”His comments come after the Ministry announced that the National Film Awards would be hosted in different parts of the country, taking the prestigious ceremony beyond the National Capital. According to the Ministry, this year’s ceremony at Ekta Nagar is intended to bring together cinematic talent from across India and reflect the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’.72nd National Film Awards to be held in Kevadia on September 22Instituted in 1954, the National Film Awards are among India’s most prestigious honours for excellence in cinema. Over more than seven decades, the awards have recognised outstanding creative and technical achievements across feature films, non-feature films and writing on cinema. The awards also represent the linguistic, cultural and regional diversity of Indian filmmaking, with films from several Indian languages and regions receiving recognition. The 72nd National Film Awards ceremony is scheduled for September 22 in Kevadia. Further details about the event are awaited.Kartik Aaryan and Mammootty win Best Actor awardsAt the 72nd National Film Awards, Kartik Aaryan and Mammootty have jointly been honoured with the Best Actor in a Leading Role award for their performances in ‘Chandu Champion’ and ‘Bramayugam’, respectively. ‘Article 370’ has been named Best Feature Film, while Yami Gautam has been honoured as Best Actress in a Leading Role for the same film.Randeep Hooda will receive the Best Debut Director award for ‘Swatantrya Veer Savarkar’. ‘Bhangaar’ has been adjudged the Best Non-Feature Film, while ‘Ram-Nami’ has been selected as the Best Documentary by the jury.Several other films, including ‘Kalki 2898 AD’, ‘Amaran’, ‘Pushpa: The Rule Part-02’, ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’ and ‘Stree 2’, have also been recognised in various categories.The awards will also celebrate films across languages and forms, including Marathi, Santhali, Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, Tulu and Garhwali. For the first time, a Santhali film will receive an honour in the Non-Feature Film section.In the Best Writing on Cinema category, Sanjeev Shrivastava has been named the Best Film Critic. The Best Book on Cinema award will go to ‘Naaniruvude Nimagaagi Naadiruvude Nanagaagi: Kannada Cinemada Thathva matthu Rajakeeya’ by Dr Pradeep Kenchanuru.Paresh Rawal’s current work frontParesh Rawal continues to remain active across comedy, drama and franchise films. He was recently seen in ‘Welcome to the Jungle’, which brought him back alongside Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty and a large ensemble cast. He is also part of the upcoming ‘Malamaal Weekly 2’, alongside Riteish Deshmukh, Rajpal Yadav and Elvish Yadav. The sequel is being directed by Amit Joshi, with production expected to begin by the end of 2026.Paresh Rawal’s sons Aditya and Aniruddh are also making their mark in filmsRawal’s film legacy is also continuing through his sons Aditya Rawal and Aniruddh Rawal. Aditya began his career as a writer before making his acting debut with ‘Bamfaad’ in 2020 and later appearing in films including ‘Faraaz’ and ‘Subedaar’. Aniruddh, meanwhile, recently made his theatrical acting debut with ‘Awarapan 2’, in which he plays Sikandar, a character on the autism spectrum. Before moving in front of the camera, he worked as an assistant director and was mentored by Naseeruddin Shah.During a conversation with Variety India, Paresh has said that while he takes an interest in his sons’ work, he does not want them to receive special treatment because of their family background. In a recent interview, he stressed that they should experience the struggle and criticism that come with building an acting career.Get the latest Bollywood & Entertainment News, and more. Download the TOI app.Give your child the gift of confidence! Claim your exclusive TOI Masterclass spot today!