‘Kuch Sapney Apne’ Wins Awards At Boston Film Fest

India-West News Desk

BOSTON, MA- Mona Ambegaonkar and Shishir Sharma have won Best Actor awards at the India International Film Festival of Boston for their performances in Hindi LGBTQ+ family drama ‘Kuch Sapney Apne’, directed by Sridhar Rangayan and Saagar Gupta.

The actors play Vasudha and Damodar, a married couple whose understanding of family is challenged when their son’s sexuality confronts their long-held beliefs and prejudices.

The Boston awards take the film’s tally to 14. It has been screened at 42 film festivals across India, the US, UK, Europe and elsewhere.

Rangayan said he was particularly pleased with the recognition for Ambegaonkar and Sharma, whose performances, he said, brought depth, honesty and emotional complexity to the film.

Despite its festival run and awards, however, the film is still looking for a streaming platform. Rangayan described the situation as disillusioning, saying the film has received strong responses from audiences and juries but remains largely inaccessible to viewers.

For Ambegaonkar, the award marks her fourth acting honor at an international festival for films made with Rangayan and Gupta, including ‘Evening Shadows’ and ‘Kuch Sapney Apne’. She noted that the film was nominated in three categories in Boston and won two awards, and expressed hope that it would find a streaming platform.

Sharma said the honor was his third Best Actor award for the film at a US-based mainstream festival. His award also includes his performance in ‘Claudia’, which was screened at the same festival.

The film follows Kartik and Aman, a gay couple whose relationship is tested by infidelity, family tensions and differing views. At the same time, Kartik’s parents confront challenges in their marriage as they grapple with their son’s life and choices.

The cast includes Satvik Bhatia, Arpit Chaudhary, Abhay Kulkarni, Veenah Nair, Yamini Singh and Yateen Karyekar. Songs feature voices including Rekha, Vishal Bhardwaj, Shaan, Shashwat Singh and Sushant Divgikar.

‘Kuch Sapney Apne’ had a limited theatrical release in 10 Indian cities in February 2025 and is currently available on Virgin Atlantic and Qantas flights. Rangayan’s ‘Evening Shadows’, which serves as its prequel, has been streaming on Netflix for three years.