Shantanu Maheshwari takes over the stage as he accepts the IIFA Best Debutante Male Award for ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’

When they say hard work and consistency can really make your dreams true, it’s definitely true for actor Shantanu Maheshwari.  Last seen in the OTT series ‘Tooth Pari’, the actor delivered a noteworthy performance in his debut film last year - Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s biographical crime drama ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’. The actor portrayed the role of Alia Bhatt’s love interest, named Afsaan. Making it all worth it and rightly so, Shantanu has now bagged the prestigious ‘Best Debutante Male’ Award for ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’ at the IIFA Awards 2023 in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

An iconic moment for Shantanu today, the actor earned a lot of love and appreciation from both the audience and the industry for his performance in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s masterpiece.

 

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Expressing his gratitude for the honour, Shantanu said in his acceptance speech, “ It's my first, and it means a lot. It has been a long journey to reach this point, but the best part is that it's only the beginning. I began my career in the TV industry, and I would like to express my gratitude to Palki Malhotra for giving me my first opportunity in TV. If that hadn't happened, I wouldn't have discovered my passion for acting. I want to thank my parents and my family, as well as the individuals directly involved in the film Gangubai Kathiawadi. A big thank you to Leela ma'am for spotting me, Sanjay sir for giving me that opportunity, and introducing me to the world in a completely different light. I have learned a lot, and Alia Bhatt, thank you for being so helpful. I also extend my gratitude to Sudeep sir, Shruti ma'am, Krutee, and everyone else who was involved in Gangubai. Your support means a lot to me. Thank you all so much for everything.”

Meanwhile, on the work front, the award winning actor will be next seen in director Neeraj Pandey’s ‘Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha’ alongside the likes of Ajay Devgn and Tabu.