Veteran actor Paresh Rawal, a four-decade Bollywood mainstay celebrated for his versatile turns in Hera Pheri and OMG, has ignited a fresh debate on the underbelly of film awards, asserting that even India’s National Film Awards aren’t immune to lobbying. In a no-holds-barred October 30, 2025, podcast chat with entrepreneur Raj Shamani, the 70-year-old thespian likened the practice to global giants like the Oscars, calling it a “game” fueled by influence and networking. “Lobbying happens there too—it’s not just here,” he quipped, emphasizing that true validation comes from peers, not podiums. His candid take, amid a string of 2025 National Award controversies, has trended with 800K #PareshOnAwards X mentions, spotlighting systemic biases in India.
A Podcast Provocation Amid Award Scrutiny
Rawal’s remarks surfaced during a wide-ranging discussion on his career, from early struggles to blockbuster highs, just days after the 71st National Film Awards announcement on October 24, 2025, which sparked whispers of favoritism toward certain lobbies. The actor, a 1993 National Award winner for Best Supporting Actor in Woh Chokri and Sir, has long been vocal on industry ills—from nepotism to OTT shifts—but this marks his sharpest swipe at awards. “Award to mujhe toh pata hi nahi hai,” he began, before diving into the “mess” of submissions and schmoozing. The timing resonates: Recent Oscars discourse, including Harvey Weinstein’s admitted campaigns, mirrors his point, while Bollywood’s Filmfare and IIFA have faced similar flak for “technicalities” like improper entries.
Rawal’s Unfiltered Take: Influence Over Integrity?
“It’s a game—lobbying happens, aggressive lobbying,” Rawal stated, explaining how filmmakers host lavish parties to “whip up” jury members, much like Oscar for-your-consideration ads. “If it happens at the Oscars, why not here? National Award mein thoda bahut hota hoga, utna nahi jitna baaki awards mein.” Yet, he clarified the Nationals retain prestige despite the “slight” influence, driven by networking over merit. Dismissing trophies as secondary, Rawal cherished “genuine” nods: “When my director says ‘cut’ and smiles, or my writer calls it ‘behtareen’—that’s my award.” He name-dropped legends like Naseeruddin Shah and Om Puri, whose praise post-Mumbai Meri Jaan (2008) trumped any statuette. As a former MP (2009-2014), Rawal’s lens adds political heft, critiquing how “political pressure” seeps in.
Fan Reactions and Industry Ripples
Social media erupted with #PareshOnLobbying, fans split between applause—”Finally, an insider exposes the emperor’s new clothes!” (400K likes on a viral clip)—and backlash: “Even Nationals? Nothing’s sacred.” Peers like Manoj Bajpayee echoed via retweets, “Spot on—craft over campaigns,” while critics in Hindustan Times called it a “wake-up call” amid 2025’s 20% rise in award-related lawsuits (FICCI-EY). In India’s 780-language cinematic mosaic, Rawal’s words fuel reform cries—transparent juries, anti-lobby rules—echoing global pushes like the Oscars’ diversity standards. Yet, they humanize the hustle: For outsiders, it’s a barrier; for insiders, a reminder that applause from the set outshines spotlights.
Awards’ Achilles Heel: Merit in the Mirror?
Paresh Rawal’s lobbying exposé isn’t cynicism—it’s clarity. As he equates Nationals to Oscars, it challenges: Can prestige purge politics? His peer-praised path affirms yes, urging Bollywood to honor heart over hustle in cinema’s glittering gamble.
-By Manoj H