Nawazuddin Siddiqui won the Best Actor award at the New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF) for his performance in Aditya Kripalani’s directorial I’m Not an Actor.

The film is set around virtual calls between two different worlds—India and Germany—and between two very different people: a puritanical actor (Chitrangada Satarupa) and a 55-year-old retired banker who is also an aspiring actor (Nawazuddin).

I’m Not an Actor explores themes of identity, performance, and emotional conflict and featured a layered and introspective portrayal by Nawazuddin that resonated with both audiences and critics at the festival.

In his acceptance speech, Nawazuddin expressed his gratitude for the recognition. “This award is special because it acknowledges the kind of cinema that challenges you as an actor. I’m Not an Actor is a film that asked me to look inward, and I’m thankful to the director and the team for trusting me with such a complex role," he said.

When it comes to other projects, Nawazuddin has Raat Akeli Hai 2, Noorani Chehra and Thama in the pipeline.