Actor Paresh Rawal, who received a National Award in 1993, recently spoke candidly about lobbying practices in prestigious award ceremonies. During a podcast conversation with Raj Shamani, Rawal acknowledged that lobbying exists even in National Awards, though to a lesser extent compared to other Indian film awards. He drew parallels to international practices, noting that similar lobbying happens at the Oscars as well. The actor explained how influence and networking drive these processes, with big parties hosted to sway academy members. Despite winning a National Award himself for Best Supporting Actor for his performances in Woh Chokri and Sir, Rawal emphasized that he values recognition from directors and writers more than trophies. On the work front, he recently appeared in The Taj Story as a tour guide and in the horror comedy Thamma alongside Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna. He has several projects lined up including Hera Pheri 3, Bhooth Bangla, and Welcome To The Jungle.
Views on Award Lobbying and Recent Film Appearances
Rawal revealed that lobbying influences award ceremonies globally, stating it happens at the Oscars too. He described how big parties are organized to influence academy members and decision-makers. However, he maintained that National Awards remain more reputed than other Indian film awards despite some lobbying presence. The actor stressed that genuine appreciation from creative collaborators matters most to him. Recently, Rawal appeared in The Taj Story, directed by Tushar Amrish Goel, playing a tour guide whose life changes after a viral video questioning the Taj Mahal's origins leads to his dismissal. He also featured in Thamma, a horror comedy directed by Aditya Sarpotdar and produced by Dinesh Vijan. His upcoming projects include Hera Pheri 3, Bhooth Bangla, and Welcome To The Jungle.
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