Nalneesh Neel named Best Actor in Negative Role at sixth Caleidoscope Indian Film Festival Boston for Bhor (2017)

Actor Nalneesh Neel, who has been seen in films like Raees (2017), Chhichhore  (2019) and Gulabo Sitaboo (2020), has bagged the award for Best Actor in a Negative Role at the recently concluded Caleidoscope Indian Film Festival Boston.

Neel won the award for his outstanding portrayal of a drunkard father-in-law in Kamakhya Narayan Singh's hard-hitting drama Bhor. In the film, Neel plays a character whose only agenda is to get drunk on toddy and perform his duties in the fields so that the family can make ends meet.

Expressing his joy at receiving the award, Neel said, "This is a Diwali gift for me. This is my first award so it's a very special one. We really worked hard for this film to get into the character. I got inspired by Western actors like Marlon Brando in The Godfather (1972) and Robert De Niro in Taxi Driver (1976) to get into character. I lived among Bihar's Musahar community for two months."

He added, "I'm overwhelmed. It feels great when you get honoured on an international platform. My institution BNA has shaped me as an actor. I'm thankful to my audience for supporting my work. I want the film to reach out to every audience so people learn about the social issue that this film deals with. I want to work more on good films and scripts like this."

Bhor is the story of Bhunni (Saveree Gaur), an 'untouchable' girl who wants to pursue her education but is married off despite not having attained the age of majority. With her husband's support, she decides to pursue higher education, but the lack of a toilet in her husband's home becomes a big cause of concern for her. The film explores various social issues such as open defecation, casteism and women's empowerment.

Bhor also received an award for Best Picture on Social Issues at the Caleidoscope Indian Film Festival Boston. It has received more than 25 awards at various film festivals.