Sai Pallavi: 'For me, National Award is directly connected to..'

Sai Pallavi, celebrated for her performances in films like Premam and Gargi, recently shared the emotional reason behind her desire to win a National Award. In an interview with Galatta Plus, the actor revealed that her motivation to win the prestigious award was linked to a special gift from her grandmother.

Sai Pallavi explained that when she was around 21 years old, her grandmother, who was very ill and had just undergone surgery, gifted her a saree with the wish that she wear it for her wedding. At the time, Sai hadn’t even started her acting career, but the memory stayed with her. "I thought marriage was next, I hadn’t done my first film yet. As I was nearing 23-24, I did Premam," she said. As her career progressed, the dream of winning a National Award became associated with wearing that saree in celebration.

"I always wanted a National Award," she shared, adding, “For me, the National Award is directly connected to the saree.”

National Award as personal milestone

Despite her disappointment in not winning the National Award for her role in Gargi -- a role that earned her much acclaim -- Sai Pallavi emphasised that her true measure of success comes from the connection she makes with the audience. "If people are able to feel what my character feels on-screen, that’s my job, and that’s enough," she explained. "Whatever comes after that is just a bonus for me to feel good. I value this a little more than that."

Sai Pallavi’s performance in Gargi was widely praised, with the film becoming a hit at the box office, grossing over 13 crores. Fans were particularly vocal on social media, expressing their disappointment when she didn’t receive the recognition they felt she deserved.

A successful year for Sai Pallavi

After Gargi, Sai Pallavi continued to achieve success in Tamil and Telugu cinema. She starred in Amaran, where she played the wife of an army man alongside Sivakarthikeyan, and in Thandel, a film that saw her portray an estranged lover of a fisherman. Thandel, in which she starred alongside Naga Chaitanya, has been another hit for the actor.

Looking ahead, Sai Pallavi is set to make her Bollywood debut with Ek Din, where she will co-star with Junaid Khan. Fans are eagerly awaiting her next projects, as the versatile actor continues to captivate audiences across industries.