I didn’t dare dream of a National Award: Kalki Koechlin

It came as a complete surprise for actor Kalki Koechlin when her name was among the list of National Award winners. The actor was awarded the Special Jury Award for her performance in Margarita With A Straw where she played the role of a young girl suffering from cerebral palsy. Kalki was shooting in Mumbai when she got the news.

Read: Complete list of National Film Award winners

“I was shooting in Colaba in Mumbai and as soon as I heard the news, I started jumping. I was on the road, jumping up and down. This came completely unexpected. I am one of those people who don’t expect anything at all so this was a great surprise. I didn’t dare dream of a National Award,” she says.

Read: Winning people’s hearts was a victory in itself: Kabir Khan

Though Kalki is happy about the award, her mother is even more ecstatic and has informed everyone she knows about her daughter’s success. “My mum has called some people home for a celebration. This is that perfect excuse to open that expensive bottle of champagne that is reserved for special occasions. I called some close friends over and we had a small get-together, but nothing major as I had to report to work the next day,” the actor says. “I got calls from my home town Puducherry and I was wondering who informed them. It was then that I realized that it was my mum’s doing. She has informed the whole world,” she adds.

Winning a National Award is a matter of prestige as it is one award that gives you enormous recognition as an actor. Though Kalki has been stereotyped in Bollywood, the actor has no idea if this win will turn things around for her. “Of course, the award holds immense value and I am honoured, but this is my first National Award and I don’t really know if it affects the kind of work that I’m offered.”