Manasi Parekh is recognized by casual Hindi audiences as a prominent figure in popular television series such as Kasautii Zindagii Kay and Saath Nibhaana Saatiya, among others. However, following her rise to fame in Hindi television, the actress established her reputation in her native Gujarat through several critically acclaimed films. The year 2024 proved to be particularly significant for her, as she achieved remarkable box office success and received a National Film Award. In an interview with HT, Manasi reflects on her extraordinary year and the resurgence of Gujarati cinema.

In her remarkable year of 2024.

Manasi experienced significant success with her Gujarati horror comedy, Jhamkudi, which grossed approximately ₹25 crore at the box office. Later that year, she made history by becoming the first individual to receive the Best Actress National Award for a Gujarati film, winning it for her 2023 release, Kutch Express. "This year has been remarkable," Manasi reflects. "First, Jhamkudi shattered all Gujarati box office records from the past two years. That was a tremendous achievement, and then the award followed. It reinforced our belief that we are on the right track."

The National Award victory came as a surprise to Manasi, who admitted that she had forgotten about her application for the award. "It was completely unexpected. One hopes that a film reaches its full potential. While we were creating Kutch Express, we sensed that something extraordinary was unfolding. We had submitted our application for the National Award like everyone else, but we were unaware of the subsequent process," she explains.

"We were in the midst of shooting two months ago when the announcement was made, and industry colleagues began reaching out to me. I was quite bewildered because I had forgotten that we had even applied. In that moment of being completely taken by surprise, it felt incredibly special. If one creates a film with the sole intention of winning an award, it can become a constant preoccupation. However, when you are unaware of such expectations, it is truly remarkable," the actress adds.

Kutch Express was produced by Manasi and her husband, singer-filmmaker Parthiv Gohil, with contributions from their friends. "My husband and I took on the production of this project, and our friends provided financial support. It is nearly entirely crowdfunded in that regard. We firmly believed that it was essential to create this film in our own language. Therefore, the award feels even more gratifying," she concludes.

The resurgence of Gujarati cinema.

Many were taken aback by the fact that Manasi is the first recipient of the Best Actress National Award for Gujarati cinema, a distinction she regards as a significant honour. She remarked, "While Hindi cinema remains predominant, the National Awards also acknowledge talents in regional films, as evidenced by Nithya (Menen) and myself, along with Rishab Shetty for Kantara. It becomes evident that there is a concerted effort to recognize talent beyond Hindi cinema."

However, the actress contends that the previous lack of recognition for Gujarati cinema can be attributed to its earlier stagnation, making it understandable that prominent figures in the industry did not receive awards. "Gujarati cinema has truly evolved over the past 10 to 12 years," she elaborates. "Prior to that, it was largely inactive. Although films were produced, they were not effectively distributed. The industry is still in its formative stages. Talented directors and writers are now emerging, leading to a revival."

As she looks ahead to 2025, Manasi expresses her desire to continue creating meaningful work, irrespective of language or medium. "My sole aim is to tell compelling and significant stories," she concludes.

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