Athish Shetty, who won the National Award for Best Child Artist for his performance in Mithya, says the honour is an unforgettable moment in his young acting career. The 15-year-old actor said he was overwhelmed when he heard the news and credited director Sumanth Bhat for believing in him.
"This is unbelievable. I gave my 100 per cent to Mithya, and I'm very happy that it has been recognised. I want to thank Sumanth Bhat sir. Without him, Mithya wouldn't have been what it is. It was completely his vision, and he guided me throughout."
Athish admitted that playing the lead in Mithya wasn't easy, especially at such a young age.
"The script was so good, but it was also emotionally challenging. I did this role when I was 11 years old, and as a child artist, some scenes were difficult to understand and perform. But Sumanth sir helped me through them."
Athish has appeared in various films, including Rishab Shetty's Kantara, Vikrant Rona, starring Sudeep, and Cake. He had earlier won the Karnataka State Film Award for Cake, making the National Award another major achievement in his career.
The young actor says he now wants to continue working hard and fulfil his biggest dream. "I've acted in over 21 films, and these awards motivate me to work even harder. My dream is to become a big actor one day."
Athish is currently balancing his studies with his film career and is looking forward to taking on more challenging roles in the years ahead.
