Manasi Parekh on Winning the National Award: ‘It Is a Validation of My Struggle’

Mumbai: Actor Manasi Parekh says she is still struggling to process the moment she won the National Award for Best Actress. The actor, whose performance in the Gujarati film Kutch Express earned her one of Indian cinema’s most prestigious honours, described the recognition as unexpected and deeply emotional.

From tears of disbelief to a candid conversation with her seven-year-old daughter, Parekh says the award became a memorable family moment. But for the actor, the recognition represents something even bigger: validation for a slow and steady journey, her decision to build a career in Gujarati cinema and her belief that actresses should create opportunities for themselves rather than wait for the industry to provide them.

“I have been gushing, I was crying because I was like, ‘Oh my God, this was so unexpected,’” Parekh said while reflecting on the announcement.

‘Why Are You Crying? You Should Be Happy’

The National Award announcement was an emotional moment for Manasi Parekh and her family.

The actor said her husband, singer and producer Parthiv Gohil, and other members of her family shared in the excitement. Her daughter, however, had her own innocent reaction when she saw her mother crying.

“My daughter is seven years old and she’s like, ‘Oh, why are you crying? You should be happy when you win an award,’” Parekh recalled.

The moment captured the mixture of joy and disbelief that accompanied the announcement.

Parekh’s husband, Parthiv Gohil, also had a direct connection to Kutch Express, having produced the film. Their shared involvement in Gujarati cinema has been an important part of their creative journey as a couple.

A National Award After a Slow and Steady Journey

Parekh described her journey toward the National Award as gradual rather than sudden.

“It’s been a very slow and steady journey, but it’s been a steady journey,” she said. “It’s constantly getting better and better.”

However, she was also candid about the challenges she has faced throughout her career.

“Yes, it’s always been a struggle. Of course it’s been a struggle. I would be lying if I said it wasn’t a struggle,” Parekh said.

According to the actor, the struggle is not unique to newcomers. She believes that even established artists face professional uncertainty and challenges within the entertainment industry.

“Every day is a struggle, and in the entertainment industry more so,” she said.

For an actress and a working woman, Parekh said the struggle often involves finding the kinds of roles one genuinely wants to perform.

‘Why Are You Doing Gujarati Films?’

One of the most important decisions in Parekh’s career was her decision to pursue work in Gujarati cinema.

She recalled that when she began acting seriously in regional films around six or seven years ago, some people connected with the Hindi film industry questioned her decision.

“A lot of the Hindi industry people were like, ‘Why are you doing Gujarati films?’” she said.

Her response was simple: she believed there was enormous potential in regional-language cinema and wanted to build her own path.

“I’m forging my own path here because I believe there’s so much potential in regional languages,” Parekh said.

For her, the National Award has become a significant form of validation for that choice.

The actor also believes that language barriers in Indian entertainment have reduced significantly over the past several years, allowing audiences to increasingly engage with stories and performances beyond traditional linguistic boundaries.

A Win That Validates Her Hard Work

Parekh described the award as a deeply meaningful acknowledgement of her professional journey.

“I feel so validated with this,” she said, adding that the recognition represented validation for years of hard work.

For Parekh, the significance of Kutch Express also lies in the film’s themes. She pointed out that the project engaged with ideas surrounding feminism and gave her the opportunity to take on a performance-oriented role.

But the actor was also direct about how that opportunity came her way.

‘We Can’t Wait for Others to Do It for Us’

One of the most striking parts of Parekh’s reflection on Kutch Express was her belief that women in cinema should actively create opportunities for themselves.

When asked about landing a strong role in the film, she pointed out that she was also one of the producers.

“That’s because I produced it,” Parekh said.

She added, “I believe we can’t wait for others to do it for us actresses. We have to fend for ourselves.”

For Parekh, the experience reinforced her belief that actors—particularly women—must sometimes take the initiative to create the stories and roles they want to see.

“I believe that the time has come for us to do what we want to do,” she said.

She sees her National Award as validation not only of her own journey but also of other actresses who have faced similar struggles in finding substantial roles.

The Challenge of Finding Strong Female Roles

Parekh said that even when she began working in Gujarati cinema, strong female characters were not always easy to find.

“There are not many female parts written,” she said while discussing the industry. “You always have the male as the central character.”

Her decision to step into production was therefore connected to a larger desire to take greater control of the kinds of stories she wanted to tell.

The success of Kutch Express and the recognition that followed suggest that creating such opportunities can have a meaningful impact both artistically and professionally.

For Parekh, the award has become a recognition of her persistence and willingness to take ownership of her creative journey.

Balancing Work, Motherhood and Family

Parekh also spoke about the challenge of balancing her career with motherhood.

She acknowledged that her daughter can sometimes feel sad when she has to leave home for work. However, the actor said her daughter has gradually developed an understanding of her mother’s professional life.

“She does get a little sad, but she understands,” Parekh said.

The actor revealed that she has completed seven films since becoming a mother.

“So now she’s kind of an understanding seven-year-old,” she said, adding that she is occasionally away from home for projects and has learned to find a balance between work and family life.

“Every year there’s a couple of projects that I’m away for. She’s used to it, and then, you know, one balances it out.”

Her comments offered an honest perspective on the realities many working parents face while trying to maintain a demanding professional career.

From Gujarati Cinema to Hindi Projects

While Manasi Parekh has found increasing recognition through Gujarati cinema, she has also worked on Hindi-language projects.

She mentioned films and projects including Dear Father, in which she appeared alongside Paresh Rawal, as well as her brief role in Uri.

However, Parekh said that her experience of working in the Hindi entertainment industry has involved a considerable amount of waiting.

“In Hindi, for me, there’s been too much of waiting,” she said. “I don’t know why.”

The actor made it clear that she is not comfortable waiting indefinitely for opportunities.

“Main wait kyon karoon?” she asked, explaining that she would rather continue creating and working in Gujarati cinema, where she has received growing support from audiences.

Critical Recognition and Box Office Success

The National Award is not the only positive development Parekh has experienced.

The actor also spoke about the success of her film Jhamkudi, which she described as a major hit.

For Parekh, the combination of critical recognition and audience response represents an important moment in her career.

On one side, she has received one of Indian cinema’s highest honours for her performance in Kutch Express. On the other, she has experienced commercial success with a film that has connected with audiences.

The two developments have given her both critical and box-office validation.

Manasi Parekh’s Next Film

Even as she celebrates her National Award win, Parekh remains busy with her next project.

The actor revealed that she is currently shooting for what she described as a beautiful love story centred on a single mother and a younger man.

According to Parekh, the subject has not been widely explored in Gujarati cinema.

The project is expected to explore a relationship dynamic that brings a relatively fresh perspective to the industry.

Parekh and her husband, Parthiv Gohil, have also worked together with the intention of contributing to Gujarati-language entertainment.

“My husband Parthiv Gohil is a singer. Both of us were like, let’s do something for the Gujarati language,” she said while discussing how their production journey began.

Sharing the Honour With Nithya Menen

Parekh also spoke about sharing the National Award recognition with actor Nithya Menen.

While she said she knew of Menen, Parekh admitted that she had not closely followed her body of work.

Still, she expressed happiness for her fellow award recipient.

“I feel very happy for her also,” Parekh said.

For Parekh, the celebrations are likely to take place in stages because she remains occupied with her shooting schedule.

She said she hoped to organise a gathering in Ahmedabad while working there, followed by a larger celebration after returning to Mumbai.

A New Phase, But the Same Approach

Despite winning one of the country’s most prestigious acting honours, Parekh does not appear interested in dramatically changing her approach to work.

She says she has always worked because she genuinely loves the process.

For her, the National Award may mark a major milestone, but it is also part of a longer journey that she describes as constantly improving.

Her career path has been defined by persistence, regional cinema, production work and a willingness to create opportunities rather than simply wait for them.

The award has now added a powerful new chapter to that story.

From being questioned about her decision to work in Gujarati films to receiving national recognition for one of those projects, Manasi Parekh’s journey has become an example of how an artist can build a career by trusting an unconventional path.

And if there is one message that emerges most clearly from her response to the National Award win, it is that the recognition represents more than a personal achievement.

For Parekh, it is proof that persistence, creative independence and a willingness to build one’s own opportunities can eventually lead to recognition.

“This award is a validation of my struggle,” she said.

After years of steadily building her career, that validation has now arrived on one of Indian cinema’s biggest stages.