Adarsh Gourav is making waves in the international circuit, courtesy his mesmerising performance in The White Tiger. After being nominated in the best leading actor category of the 2021 British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) and Film Independent Spirit Awards, he has now bagged the Rising Star Award at the Asian World Film Festival (AWFF). The fest, which was conducted virtually over the weekend, had an illustrious jury panel that included Oscar-nominated producer Gil Netter of Life Of Pi fame, Oscar-winning screenwriter David Seidler, Dallas Buyers Club director Jean-Marc Vallee and actor Lucy Liu. 

Thrilled about the honour, Gourav says, “I’m stoked to know that the AWFF found my work worthy of this award. It has been a whirlwind of emotions since the film’s release, and it’s humbling to [win] appreciation. I’m grateful that I was given this opportunity to embody the role of a lifetime.”

Through his character Balram Halwai, a driver to a US-returned couple, essayed by Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Rajkummar Rao, the Ramin Bahrani-directed movie examined the themes of class divide, servitude and burning ambition.