Kannada actor Kichcha Sudeep has declined the Best Actor award for his performance in the 2019 sports drama Pailwaan, a day after being announced as the recipient of the honor at the Karnataka State Film Awards. Taking to social media platform X, Sudeep expressed his gratitude to the jury and the Karnataka government but explained his decision to step away from receiving awards, a practice he adopted years ago for "personal reasons."
“It is truly a privilege to have received the state award under the best actor category, and I extend my heartfelt thanks to the respected jury for this honor. However, I must express that I have chosen to stop receiving awards for several years now, a decision made for various personal reasons that I intend to uphold,” Sudeep said on social media.
The actor also said there were many deserving actors who have poured their hearts into their craft and deserved the prestigious recognition more than him.
“There are many deserving actors who have poured their hearts into their craft and would appreciate this prestigious recognition far more than I would. It will only make me happier to see one of them receiving it. My dedication to entertaining people has always been without the expectation of awards, and this acknowledgment from the jury alone serves as a significant boost for me to continue striving for excellence,” he wrote.
Apologising for declining the honor, he said, “I am grateful to every jury member for selecting me, as this recognition is, in itself, my reward. I sincerely apologize to the jury members and the state government for any disappointment my decision may cause, and I trust you will respect my choice and support me on the path I have chosen,” he added.
This is not the first time Sudeep has declined a prestigious accolade. In August 2022, he turned down an honorary doctorate from Tumakuru University, stating that his contributions had not been significant enough to warrant such recognition. At the time, he said that his work was for personal satisfaction and said the efforts of those working to improve society go unnoticed.
The Karnataka State Film Awards for 2019, delayed by five years due to the pandemic, announced winners across several categories. Among them were Anupama Gowda as Best Actor-Female, V Harikrishna for Best Music, Raghu Dixit for Best Singer-Male, and Jayadevi Jangamashetty for Best Singer-Female. Awards for films from 2020 to 2024 are yet to be announced.