Actor Kriti Sanon was in a meeting when she was announced as the winner of the 69th National Film Award for Best Actress. Needless to say, she was overwhelmed.

“I froze for a few seconds and ran to hug my father. I called my mother back [home] from wherever she was; my sister, Nupur, was there, too. My mother was dancing, everyone was hugging each other. It was an emotional moment that I will always remember,” she tells us, elated at the honour.

The 33-year-old won the award for Mimi (2021), in which she plays a surrogate. “I get goosebumps every time I say National Award,” she continues, “Every form of validation means a lot. Coming from a non-film background, it was anyway a huge thing to be a part of the industry. An opportunity like Mimi is rare for any actor. To get the National Award is something every actor dreams of, but not too many get to live it. For me, to be living it within a decade [of my debut]... I didn’t expect it to happen so soon!”

An accolade as prestigious as this one is bound to change things. Ask how the award will impact her choices and life going forward and Sanon says that’s the last thing on her mind right now, as she’s just focused on doing more good work.

“I am not even thinking about the future or what impact it will have because it already has! It gave me an overwhelming sense of gratitude I hadn’t felt before... I am a very ambitious person and strive to do my best. I don’t believe I have really tapped into my potential, because I want to keep growing. This prestigious award has made me a lot more confident,” she signs off.

A day after she won the National Film Award for Best Actress, the actor visited the Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai on Saturday, accompanied by her parents and sister, actor-singer Nupur Sanon.