Indian actors, filmmakers, and movies won big at Asian Academy Creative Awards 2021. Several actors and makers won national awards across various categories at Asia-Pacific’s most prestigious Awards for Creative Excellence - Asian Academy Creative Awards for their projects like Ajeeb Daastaans, Bombay Begums, Pagglait, Serious Men, The Family Man and Bandish Bandits.

The Indian winners include Konkona Sen Sharma who won Best Actress in a Leading Role for playing the character of Bharti Mandal, a factory worker who aspires to get a high-paying data operator job in Netflix’s anthology film Ajeeb Daastaans: Geeli Pucchi. Ajeeb Daastaans also won an award for the Best Single Drama/Anthology episode for ’ Geeli Pucchi.

. @AsianAcademyCr1 2021 winners:

From India..

Best Actor - @BajpayeeManoj / #TheFamilyMan2

Best Actress - @konkonas / #GeeliPucchi from #AjeebDaastaans.

Best Supporting Actor - #NaseeruddinShah / #BandishBandits

Best Supporting Actress - @AmrutaSubhash / #BombayBegums. pic.twitter.com/mCkQnNCaMl

— CinemaRare (@CinemaRareIN) October 1, 2021

Additionally, Netflix’s film Serious Men won 2 awards. Alexander Surkala for Best Cinematography and Atanu Mukherjee for Best Editing. Furthermore, Amruta Subhash won Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her role of a bar dancer and doting mother, Lily in Netflix’s series Bombay Begums. Pagglait won the Best Sound category and Umesh Bist won Best Original Screenplay for Pagglait too. The country winners will further go on to represent India in December's Grand Awards & Gala Final. Manoj Bajpayee won the Best Actor Award for The Family Man. Hansal Mehta-directed popular web series Scam 1992, which rose actor Pratik Gandhi to fame, also bagged Best Drama Series and Best Direction awards at the Asian Academy Creative Awards 2021.

Sharing her excitement, Konkona said, "I am delighted and honoured to be recognised for my work globally and represent India in the Best Actress in a Leading Role category at AAAs. Playing the role of Bharti was an enriching experience. I am thankful to the team Ajeeb Dastaans and Netflix for their efforts and the audience for their love. Thank you for all the love for Geeli Puchi!”

. @AsianAcademyCr1 winners:

From India..

Best Original Screenplay : @umeshbist / #Pagglait

Best Sound - #Pagglait / @sikhyaent + @balajimotionpic

Best Theme Song or Title Theme : @Shankar_Live @EhsaanNoorani @loy_mendonsa / #BandishBandits pic.twitter.com/d5xpWyctwm

— CinemaRare (@CinemaRareIN) October 1, 2021

Speaking about the win for Geeli Pucchi, a part of Netflix's anthology film Ajeeb Daastaans, Director Neeraj Ghaywan said, “Ajeeb Daastaans beautifully tells the story of four strangely contrasting stories that delve into fractured relationships and unexplored spaces. Geeli Pucchi has been a genuine attempt at Dalit discourse and intersectionality in cinema."

Sharing her thoughts, Amruta said, “It is great to see the role of Lily being loved globally. I am grateful to the jury at Asian Academy Creative awards for this honour, and team Bombay Begums, my casting director, my directors, my fellow Begums and Netflix for bringing forth stories worth telling.”

Anthony Ruban, Sound Designer, Pagglait said, “We created a melodious and intricate soundtrack to compliment the theme of the film. It is always a wonderful feeling when passion is rewarded. Honoured to represent India as the National winner of this award. My thanks to Umesh Bist, Director of Pagglait for creating those fine moments for sound design to find its place. Sound design isn't ever a one man job and my biggest thanks is to Boloy Kumar Doloi for sound mixing, to team Pagglait for having faith and team Netflix for taking it to the world.”

Expressing his love for Pagglait and the joy of winning Best Original Screenplay, Umesh Bist, Director, Pagglait said, “We have often seen stories move from life to death. But Pagglait travels from death to life. I am glad that the story resonated with the viewers globally. This award is special and I share it with my entire team that helped me shape this vision and bring Pagglait to life"

Expressing his delight, Alexander Surkala said, “I am so excited and happy about this achievement. Bringing Serious Men to life and capturing the mood of the film creatively was a wonderful experience and I am glad that the audience and the jury at AAAs have loved it. I am thankful to Netflix and team Serious Men.”

Sharing his excitement, Atanu Mukherjee said, “This is incredible! I am happy and honoured to win the National Award at AAAs for Best Editing category. Thanks to my team who worked tirelessly with me on Serious Men to ensure a smooth running film and to Netflix.”