Veteran actor Shishir Sharma has won the Best Actor award at the recently concluded D.C. South Asian Film Festival (DCSAFF) in Washington, D.C. for his performance in “Kuch Sapney Apne,” a film that continues to collect awards and accolades on the global festival circuit.
In the film, Sharma plays Damodar, a stern patriarch who gradually softens after confronting life’s pressures and reconciling with his gay son and his wife, who stands up for LGBTQ rights. His layered portrayal has struck a chord worldwide, earning him a second Best Actor honor—following his win at the New Bedford International Film Festival, where the film also bagged Best Screenplay for co-writers and directors Sridhar Rangayan and Saagar Gupta.
“‘Kuch Sapne Apne’ has been a journey that has been an emotion, difficult to be expressed in words,” Sharma said in his acceptance. “The screening at DCSAFF was received very well and appreciated, but it was beyond my imagination that I would receive the Best Actor award for this film. This is a wonderful recognition of our efforts as artists.”
READ: Indian gay family drama ‘Kuch Sapney Apne’ to screen at DC South Asian Film Festival (
Festival director Manoj Singh praised Sharma’s body of work, noting that audiences also appreciated his roles in two other films screened at the festival—”Qafas” and “Chashma.” “His exceptional work across all three films was deeply appreciated by viewers and critics alike,” Singh said.
Filmmaker Sridhar Rangayan, who attended the screening and a masterclass at DCSAFF, called Sharma’s win “icing on the cake.” “We are overwhelmed by the awesome audience response to the film, with so many men, women, and trans folks coming up and saying beautiful things about the film after the screening,” he said. “This award at a mainstream festival is a testament that good films always shine, whatever the genre may be.”
Audience members echoed the praise. “Once in a while you watch a film that stays with you even after the dust settles,” filmmaker Prerna Saraff Chauhan said. “For me, the two stars of the film are the strong screenplay by Saagar Gupta and the powerhouse that Shishir ji is in a completely different role and knocking it out of the park!!”
To date, “Kuch Sapney Apne” has won 12 international awards and screened at 24 film festivals worldwide. The romantic drama follows Kartik and Aman’s relationship as it faces challenges of fidelity and family, while also delving into the cracks in Kartik’s parents’ marriage. The ensemble cast includes Mona Ambegaonkar, Satvik Bhatia, Arpit Chaudhary, and others, with music by Vishal Bhardwaj, Rekha Bhardwaj, Shaan, Shashwat Singh, and Sushant Divgikar.