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For over a month-and-a-half, she kept her fingers
crossed, in the hope that the central government's
highest recognition - the Swarn Kamal for Best
Actress - might be awarded to her.She couldn't
believe her ears, when informed that Khamoshi wasn't
even in the running. Hurt to the core, she said,
"How is this possible? I've been told that all
the forms have been filled and submitted and the
print has been sent to Delhi". 
Had someone goofed? Was someone playing dirty? She couldn't help asking herself these questions and immediately contacted the Khamoshi director, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, to find out what was going on. Attempts by Manisha and Sanjay to sort out the matter, finally, came to nought. The damage had already been done. The deadline hadn't been adhered to by film's production persons. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting could
not be blamed because it had to adhere to the written
rules and regulations. "If Manisha didn't win, it's not because she lost" said a visibly shaken Sanjay Leela Bhansali. "She didn't win because someone at Polygram or the executive producer goofed". Hurt and angry, the director said "God, how hard I tried to see that Khamoshi got its due but all my efforts were in vain". When he learnt that the official application forms
and prints of Khamoshi had not reached Delhi, he
moved heaven and The director personally collected the biodatas and photographs of his lead players, Nana Patekar, Manisha Koirala and Seema Biswas. He filled the forms and the bank draft for the entry money was ready. He spent an entire day at the Polygram office and was told that the application forms and film's print were couriered to Delhi. The director's dreams were shattered on April 23 when he was informed by a friend in Delhi that his film was not considered for the National Awards. "In fact, I dreamt of opening the newspaper one fine morning and reading that Manisha had bagged the National Award. I imagined her walking up the stage to receive the award from the President". On April 25, Sanjay called the Polygram office in
Delhi to find out whether a print of Khamoshi had
reached them and if "I could sense that someone was playing foul. I can't pinpoint who is to blame in Polygram. Since we are no longer involved with their next ventures, they care a damn about us. Manisha has been deprived of a chance of a lifetime. It's a clear case of Sabotage," said a heartbroken Sanjay. The executive producer of Khamoshi, Sibte Hassan
Rizvi, admitted that Polygram was miffed with
Manisha. According Perhaps, it's far too late to cry over spilt milk.
But one thing is for sure: Manisha Koirala has more
roles and performances to go. Someone, did her in
this time. The next time, the actress will have to
tread carefully because the tendency is to keep
tripping the successful star till it hurts. |
The I & B Ministry
officials did try to help, but since flouting the
regulations would amount to setting a precedent,
Khamoshi was finally not screened before the National
Feature Film Jury, chaired by producer M.P.
Subbirammi Reddy. 
earth to rectify the damage. 
it had been forwarded to
the Directorate of Film Festivals. 
to him, this was because
she demanded a hefty price for Hrishikesh Mukherjee's
film. "But they're not petty people," Rizvi
emphasized. "They wouldn't victimize her.
Manisha is being paid a good amount of money by her
producer. If she chooses not to give Polygram a
concession, that's entirely her prerogative. (Courtesy Filmfare)
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