Mumbai: Actor Gopal Kulkarni, a native of Kamanadi in Karnataka’s Vijayapura, has bagged the prestigious award for best debut male actor in a negative role (Sandalwood) in the International Iconic Awards 2020.
Kulkarni was conferred the award for his role as the antagonist is “India vs England” that also starred eminent actors such as Vasishta Simha, Manvitha Harish, Ananth Nag, Prakash Belawadi, and Sumalath Ambareesh. The film was directed by Nagatihalli Chandrashekar.
Speaking to Newskarnataka.com, Gopal Kulkarni expressed his gratitude to director Nagatihalli for the opportunity to act in the film. He also thanked young director Devendra Wadeyar for receiving the award on his behalf.
“I am proud to have received the award along with Dr. V Nagendra Prasad, who won an award for the lyrics to ‘Salam Rocky Bhai’ of ‘KGF Chapter 1’,” he added.
This is the first time that Kulkarni, who is settled in London, UK, played the role of a villain in a film. He has had a passion for cinema since childhood and had played supportive characters for 20 years.
What’s more, Kulkarni also started producing various small-budget movies and web series. He is currently producing two more films with young directors.
Meanwhile, Kulkarni is also actively connecting Kannadigas around the world as the General Secretary of Sagarottara Kannadigaru.
Sagarottara Kannadigaru is a secular, apolitical, and non-religious forum initiated by like-minded Kannadigas residing in America, England, Italy, Canada, Germany, France, Australia, Saudi Arabia, UAE and other countries around the globe. Sagarothara Kannadigaru Forum plans to rope in all legends of the Kannada literary world in this series of the talk shows.