Janhvi Kapoor was awarded the Best Actor Of The Year (Female) at the NDTV Indian Of The Year event held in New Delhi on Friday.
After receiving the award, the actress delivered a heartfelt and introspective speech as she reflected on her journey, the impact of her film, and the evolving sense of responsibility that comes with success and public recognition.
Speaking about the tangible milestones the film has achieved, from awards to global recognition, Janhvi emphasised that its impact on her personal growth mattered far more.
"There are tangible things, like the awards or the recognition or the crazy world tour that the film has been on. But in the ways that it has made me recognise the person I want to be, the kind of artist I want to be, it has made me sensitive to the cracks in our society," she said.
"I'm Extremely Grateful": Janhvi Kapoor
She went on to describe how the experience deepened her understanding of human emotions and contradictions. "It's made me sensitive to the unimaginable hope and goodness in it, the beauty in it, the terror in it, the division in it, but also the unity in it. For all of these reasons, I'm extremely grateful to be a part of this journey. Truly honoured," Janhvi added.
Janhvi On Director Neeraj Ghaywan
Expressing gratitude to filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan, she acknowledged the faith he placed in her. "I'm extremely grateful to Neeraj sir for seeing something in me that, on most days, I can't see in myself," she said.
According to Janhvi, the core message of the film lies in empathy and recognition. "I really think that's what this film is about. It's about seeing people for what they really are, and feeling seen. That's really what we hope you take away from this experience. That's what I took away," she shared.
When asked about handling success and pressure after being named Indian of the Year, Janhvi admitted that the nervousness never truly disappears. "I don't know if you guys can tell, but my hand is shaking with this mic in it because I'm in this amazing room with so many formidable people. The pressure really never goes away," she said candidly.
She added that success has transformed pressure into something more meaningful. "I think the pressure has kind of turned into responsibility, and I'm more cognisant of it," Janhvi noted.
Janhvi Kapoor On How Her Parents' Relationship Shaped Her Values
Touching upon the importance of love and compassion in her life, Janhvi credited her parents' relationship for shaping her values. "I think just loyalty and trust, but more than anything, having respect for one another - respect for each other's opinions, their space, and giving your partner, your companion, or even your friends and the people around you room to grow and have their own experiences, and not curbing that instinct," she said.
She further reflected on how compassion allows people to thrive. "When you're around people who are truly compassionate and love you for who you are, you can be the best version of yourself. You're not reduced to other people's opinion of yourself, which I think is very important," Janhvi added.
Lightening the mood, Janhvi also joked about her limitations when asked if there was anything she deliberately avoided in public. "I was told before I came on stage that everyone's having a lot of fun - this person sang, that person sang - and that's one thing I'm not good at. I promise you, if I start singing, this hall will be empty in half a second," she said, drawing laughter from the audience.
Recalling her childhood growing up in a film family, Janhvi revealed she was always eager to perform. "I was very enterprising, so I'd put on skits. I'd direct and act in the skits and little dance shows. I was so enterprising that they had to pay a fee to enter to see me perform - but they had to pay to leave as well," she said with a smile.
About NDTV Indian Of The Year
NDTV introduced its Indian of the Year awards in 2003, focusing on transformative figures across similar fields who embody India's identity and progress. Continuing its tradition of honouring excellence as part of Indian Of The Year, NDTV undertook an exhaustive selection process to recognise outstanding Indians across 14 diverse categories-spanning business leadership, innovation, philanthropy, governance, sports, entertainment, culture, and science.