First Award Of The Season Goes To….Alia Bhatt…Sonam Goes Home Disappointed

The  good news for director Ram Madhvani is that he won the best director award at the Screen awrds for the richly applauded Neerja. The bad news is that he lost the best film award to Pink.

Even worse news for Ram was that Sonam Kapoor who was considered the strongest contender this year for Best Actress for her sterling performance as real-life air hostess Neerja Bhanot, lost the award to Alia Bhatt.

Alia, truly the star of the moment, walked home with the best actress award for her two diametrically opposite performances in Udta Punjab and Dear Zindagi.

Ram who met Sonam after the awards were announced says she was sorely disappointed. “We were all very happy because the film has been recognized. I was honoured to be selected for best director, though I felt Shakun Batra’s  direction Of Kapoor & Sons was also worthy of recognition.Jim Sarbh won the best debutant award.And we breathed a collective sigh of joyous relief when Shabanaji won the best supporting actress award for film.”

However Sonam’s exclusion from the circle of joy was a damper for the Neerja team. If it was any consolation to Sonam her brother Harshvardhan Kapoor won the best debutant award along with her Neerja co-star Jim Sarbh.

Alia  is on  an unprecedented high.

Speaking on her awards season that’s upon us Alia had said, “I’d be lying if I said I am not looking forward  to the awards. I know there are others with an equally strong chance of winning. May the best woman win.”