Divya Dutta on not getting National Award from President: It doesn’t lessen its value

Actor Divya Dutta is on cloud nine after receiving her first National Award in the Best Supporting Actress category, for the film Irada. Though over 50 recipients did not attend the event on Thursday [May 3] after learning that out of 137 awards, President Ram Nath Kovind would give out only 11, Divya did not have any issues in not being awarded by the President.

“To each their own. At the time when I was getting it, I didn’t want to think about anything but the fact that today, I am a National Award winner. I am going on that dais to get that award and I am getting it from the Government of India,” says Divya, who received the award from Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani and Minister of State Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore.

Looking back... all smiles pic.twitter.com/6E4wM1eL85

— Divya Dutta (@divyadutta25) May 3, 2018

The actor, who was also a part of the Varun Dhawan-starrer Badlapur (2015) and Irrfan-starrer Blackmail, goes on to add, “I will be honest — everyone would love to get it from the President; but at the end of the day, it is ‘the’ National award and it (not getting it from the President) doesn’t lessen what I have in my hand. It has the stamp of the Government of India. It says that I am a National Award winner and I was getting it from somebody who is very honoured. I think when you reach there to take it, it’s beautiful; you just live in that moment. It doesn’t take anything away from me.”

In Irada, a film about water conservation, Divya’s role of a politician was a negative one. Also starring Naseeruddin Shah, the film was directed by Aparnaa Singh, and also received a National Award in the category Best Film on Environment Conservation/Preservation.

Talking about the award ceremony, Divya says, “There was a certain grace to the event. Everyone expressed their opinion very peacefully and, at the end of the day, they also know that it is ‘the’ National award and it has a certain dignity attached to it. Later, we all had dinner together. Even those who didn’t come for the award ceremony came for dinner.”

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