OTTplay Awards 2022: Know Your Winners: Farhan Akhtar wins Best Actor Male – Jury (Film)

Farhan Akhtar was won the award for Best Actor Male – Jury (Film) at the recently held OTTplay Awards 2022. The actor bagged the trophy for his role in his boxing film, Toofaan. He shared his trophy with Arya, who was also seen in the boxing film, Sarpatta Parambai. He received the award from Jeetender Sharma, Founder and MD of Okinawa Autotech, Dr Rupali Sharma, Co-founder of Okinawa Autotech and actress Divya Dutta. 

Here's all you need to know about Farhan and Toofaan…

About the winner

Directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Toofaan marked Farhan’s second collaboration with the director after their last superhit, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. The 2013 release was a biography on the life of late sprinter Milkha Singh. Toofaan, on the other hand, is not directly inspired from a real-life sportsman.

Accolades

Toofaan received mixed reviews but the performances were always appreciated. Farhan as ‘Dongri Dada,’ especially, gathered many accolades. He has now won an award by popular choice for his role in the film, at the recently held OTTplay Awards 2022.

Know Farhan Akhtar a little better

Farhan Akhtar is an Indian actor-filmmaker-musician. Making his directorial debut with Dil Chahta Hai, Farhan soon grew as a filmmaker. He is known for directing films like Hrithik Roshan’s Lakshya and Shah Rukh Khan’s Don.

Two years later, Farhan was going to be seen in a reformed light. He would take the limelight in his acting debut in Rock On!! Through this movie, Farhan did not only prove he was a good filmmaker and actor but could also sing. That is when he and his band became renowned across the globe.

The actor-filmmaker then appeared in Kartik Calling Kartik, followed by Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. While he played the lead in Kartik Calling Kartik, Farhan was among one of the lead friends in the now-iconic film, ZNMD. He then featured in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Shaadi Ke Side Effects and eventually, Dil Dhadakne Do. The actor was seen in Wazir, Rock On!! 2, Lucknow Central and The Sky Is Pink before Toofaan.

While Toofaan is his first digital debut as an actor, Farhan step foot in the OTT space long ago. He is one of the producers on the uber-popular Amazon Prime Video show, Mirzapur.

Farhan is also among one of the distributors of Yash’s blockbuster, KGF and KGF: Chapter 2. The project was his first pan-India project and it sure tasted success, the proof of which is that KGF: 2 remains the undefeated champion as the highest-grossing film of 2022, even as the year is about to come to an end.

Farhan also made his Hollywood debut with the Disney+Hotstar show, Ms. Marvel. He played the brief role of Waleed in the series.

A heartfelt gratitude, straight from the winner's heart

While receiving his award, Farhan said, "I thank the jury who like boxing films (laughs!). I quickly must say thank you to Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, the director of Toofaan, Anjum Rajabali the writer and to my incredible cast who worked with me in the film: Mrunal (Thakur), Hussain Dalal, Paresh Ji (Rawal) and all of them. I am thankful to Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy for the incredible music and honestly, I mean, when I started making this film it was a lot more than about just boxing. You know, it was about life giving you a second chance. Before we could release the film, of course, the pandemic hit. The world went into an absolute still, into a pause mode and many people suffered tremendously. Hopefully, for whatever its worth, in a little way, if people know that there's hope then there's always a second chance and that is what this movie is all about."

“It feels great, firstly to share it with Arya. His work is amazing in the film (Sarpatta Parambarai), so very honoured and I’m honestly loving what’s happening here this evening. To be sharing this evening, this stage with such incredible talent from across this country feels great. So full power, more power to everybody who’s put this together. It’s so heartening to see so many industries and so many talented people celebrating films, celebrating each other. It really is a special evening and I’m happy to be a part of it,” Farhan said on sharing the award with Arya.

He also praised the first ever pan-India award show and said, “I think it’s the need of the hour. Entertainment is entertainment whichever language it may be in. We laugh, we cry, we have a gamut of emotions when we watch things. So, to be able to recognize that in each other and to recognize each other for it, for the contribution they’re making every year, putting out some amazing content – it’s a very special thing that’s happening and more strength to everybody behind it.”

Farhan praised the writing talent on the OTT space. “I’d say that’s followed closely with the acting talent that you’re getting to see. It’s a level playing field. If the content is good, it’ll work, regardless of who’s in it. So, the writer truly is the hero of content on OTT. We say theatre is an actor’s medium, film is a director’s medium. I think the OTT, especially the (long format) show is absolutely the writers’ medium so we’re seeing some incredible writing talent emerge and more power to them,” the actor-filmmaker-musician shared.

Upcoming films/web series/project

While Farhan has not yet confirmed any of his projects, he has no plans of stopping down. While talking to OTTplay after winning his award, he said, “We’re here to engage with people through our content in whichever way – be it something we create as a big-ticket extravaganza in theatre or something that reaches out to you via OTT. I’m here to engage with you (audience).” The filmmaker hinted that he would like to do something in the thriller space. Farhan does have Don 3 in the pipeline, apart from Mirzapur 3. It’s just a matter of time before we see this man back in action.