Randeep Hooda has marked a major milestone in his career by receiving his first National Film Award. The actor-director was honoured with the Best Debut Film of a Director award for Swatantrya Veer Savarkar at the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony held in Kevadia, Gujarat.
The award was presented by President Droupadi Murmu, making the occasion particularly significant for Hooda. After the ceremony, the actor reflected on the emotional experience and spoke about how his first National Award was not simply a professional achievement.
For Randeep Hooda, the moment was also about his family, especially his daughter Nyomica, who was born earlier this year. Sharing pictures from the ceremony and his family moments on social media, Hooda explained why the occasion felt different from any other career milestone.
‘I Was There As Nyomica’s Father’
In an emotional reflection, Randeep Hooda said that he was not present at the National Film Awards ceremony only as an actor or filmmaker. He said he was also there as Nyomica’s father.
The actor wrote that receiving the National Award from the President of India was a moment of immense joy and pride. However, having his family present made the achievement even more meaningful.
Randeep Hooda specifically mentioned his daughter Nyomica and said that he was there “not just as Randeep Hooda but as Nyomica’s father.” He shared that being able to experience the milestone with his family added another emotional dimension to the occasion.
The actor’s words have attracted attention because the award comes during an important new phase in his personal life. Hooda and his wife Lin Laishram welcomed their first child, daughter Nyomica, in March 2026.
Award Comes After 25 Years In Cinema
Randeep Hooda also looked back at his 25-year journey in the film industry while discussing the National Award. The actor has spent more than two decades working across Hindi cinema, taking on a wide variety of roles.
Speaking about the recognition, Hooda said that he had received immense love and appreciation from audiences throughout his career, even though he had not received much award recognition as an actor.
Receiving the National Film Award as a director therefore became a particularly encouraging moment for him. Hooda described the honour as a “good pat on the back” after years of working in the industry. He said the recognition has encouraged him to continue doing more as both an actor and filmmaker.
Swatantrya Veer Savarkar Marked His Directorial Debut
The National Award was presented to Randeep Hooda for Swatantrya Veer Savarkar, the 2024 biographical film that marked his directorial debut.
Hooda not only directed the movie but also played the lead role and was involved in writing the film. The project was based on the life of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and represented a significant creative challenge for the actor.
Taking on multiple responsibilities meant that Hooda had to approach the project from different perspectives. While acting required him to focus on his own character, directing meant overseeing the larger story, performances and visual presentation of the film.
The recognition at the National Film Awards has now formally acknowledged his work as a first-time director.
Randeep Hooda Says Direction Was The Most Demanding
Reflecting on his experience of making Swatantrya Veer Savarkar, Randeep Hooda said that he enjoyed acting, writing and directing, but found directing to be the most demanding responsibility.
According to the actor, writing was the most liberating process because it allowed unlimited possibilities. Acting became more challenging than usual because he was simultaneously involved in telling the complete story rather than concentrating only on his own character.
However, directing required him to take responsibility for the entire filmmaking process. Hooda described direction as the most complete art form among the three.
He also revealed that despite previously thinking he would never direct another film because of how demanding the experience was, he now wants to continue directing in the future.
He Plans To Continue Acting And Directing
The National Award has encouraged Randeep Hooda to explore filmmaking further. The actor revealed that he has already written two scripts and hopes to take them into production when the right opportunity arrives.
At the same time, Hooda made it clear that acting remains his first love. He intends to continue working as an actor while also exploring opportunities behind the camera.
For Hooda, the experience of directing Swatantrya Veer Savarkar appears to have opened another creative path. Although the responsibility was demanding, the National Award has provided additional encouragement to continue exploring this side of filmmaking.
Family Made The National Award More Special
The presence of Randeep Hooda’s family at the ceremony added a deeply personal element to the achievement. His wife Lin Laishram and daughter Nyomica were part of the celebrations surrounding the National Award.
Hooda also mentioned his own father, Ranbir Hooda, who was present during the ceremony. Speaking about the family gathering, the actor described the moment in terms of parents and children making each other proud.
The achievement therefore represented more than professional recognition for Hooda. It became a family milestone that he could share with his daughter, wife and father.
Nyomica’s Birth And The National Award
The year 2026 has brought two major personal milestones for Randeep Hooda. Earlier this year, he and Lin Laishram became parents to their daughter Nyomica.
Months later, Hooda received the National Film Award for his directorial debut. Speaking about the two events, the actor jokingly credited his daughter with bringing him good fortune.
He described the birth of his daughter and the National Award as two major rewards of the year. With several months still remaining in 2026, Hooda also said he was unsure what else the year might bring.
A Special Recognition For Swatantrya Veer Savarkar
Swatantrya Veer Savarkar was released in 2024 and featured Randeep Hooda alongside Ankita Lokhande and Amit Sial. The film marked a significant turning point in Hooda’s career because it allowed him to take creative control behind the camera while continuing to lead the cast.
The National Film Award recognition came after the film’s release and acknowledged Hooda’s debut as a director. For an actor with 25 years of experience in cinema, the award represents a new kind of recognition.
Hooda has said that the honour has given him greater encouragement to pursue both acting and direction in the coming years.
What’s Next For Randeep Hooda?
On the acting front, Randeep Hooda has several projects in the pipeline. He will next be seen in Eetha, which also stars Shraddha Kapoor. He is also associated with Operation Khukri.
Beyond Indian cinema, Hooda will appear in the Hollywood project Matchbox: The Movie, alongside John Cena. The film is directed by Sam Hargrave and is scheduled for release on Apple TV in October 2026.
Meanwhile, his plans to develop two scripts could mark the beginning of another phase in his career as a filmmaker.
A Career Milestone With A Personal Meaning
Randeep Hooda’s first National Film Award has brought together several aspects of his life — his 25-year acting journey, his directorial debut and his new role as a father.
While the award recognises his work on Swatantrya Veer Savarkar, Hooda’s own reflection shows that the significance of the occasion extended beyond the trophy. Standing on the National Film Awards stage with his family around him, the actor saw himself not only as an award-winning filmmaker but also as Nyomica’s father.
For Randeep Hooda, the honour has become both a professional recognition and a deeply personal family memory, while also giving him fresh motivation to continue creating stories as an actor and director.
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