The controversies surrounding the recently released 71st National Awards have refused to die down, especially in the state of Kerala. While everyone was expecting Blessy’s directorial Aadujeevitham (The Goat Life) to fetch multiple awards, including the coveted prize for Best Actor for its lead man, that was not meant to be. Instead, superstar Shah Rukh Khan was declared Best Actor for his performance in Atlee’s Jawan, and Rani Mukerji was declared Best Actress for her immaculate act in the critically acclaimed Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway, based on a real-life incident.

Prizes awarded to the alleged propaganda movie The Kerala Story have raked up a storm in Kerala, with even CM Pinarayi Vijayan blasting the jury for what many have dubbed an “unscrupulous” decision. Adding to the furore, Urvashi, who was awarded Best Supporting Actress for her heart-wrenching performance in Christo Tomy’s Ullozhukku, questioned the jury on the yardsticks for the awards — asking why the Best Actress award was shared in the previous edition but not this time. She also questioned on what parameters the performances of Vijayaraghavan, who won Best Supporting Actor, and Shah Rukh Khan, who was declared the top winner, were evaluated.

Amidst this, what is catching the public’s attention are Prithviraj’s words in a recent interview with Mid-Day.

Talking about Aadujeevitham, Prithviraj had said, “I wanted the film to work. I wanted people to like my performance, and most importantly, I wanted the world to know that man’s story. All three happened. If I get a National Award, great; if I don’t, congratulations to whoever gets it.”

His words are now gaining traction. Meanwhile, the actor-director was last seen in Sarzameen alongside Kajol and Ibrahim Ali Khan, directed by Kayoze Irani. Earlier this year, in March, Prithviraj delivered Malayalam cinema’s biggest blockbuster in the form of Empuraan, with Malayalam’s biggest stars Mohanlal and Manju Warrier playing the lead roles. However, the film had raked up a political storm across the nation over certain scenes which were vehemently opposed by a particular political faction, who considered it an attempt to “malign” them. While Mohanlal expressed regret over the hurt sentiments, its writer Murali Gopy notably refrained from issuing any clarifications or statements.

Meanwhile, Prithviraj — a true pan-Indian star now — donning multiple hats, has several interesting projects lined up across industries, including the much-hyped Salaar Part 2, in which he shares screen space with Prabhas, and Meghna Gulzar’s Dhaarya, in which he will act alongside Kareena Kapoor. The actor continues to prove his mettle with unwavering passion, driven not by the desire for awards or recognition, but by his will to give back to his craft for its greater glory.