The prestigious National Film Awards 2025 was hosted where the Indian film industry came together to celebrate cinematic excellence. The evening recognised outstanding performances in films released in 2023,
honouring legends and emerging talents. Among the highlights was the presence of superstar Shah Rukh Khan, versatile actor Vikrant Massey and the iconic Rani Mukerji, who all won in the Best Actor category.
However, one of the most heartwarming moments of the evening came from a young artist whose appearance on stage received applause as thunderous as the ovation for Shah Rukh Khan himself.
Treesha Thosar Steals the Spotlight with Her Winning Moment
The loud cheers were reserved for Marathi child actor Treesha Thosar, who won the Best Child Artist Award for her role as Chimi (Revati) in the acclaimed Marathi film Naal 2.
Dressed adorably in a traditional white saree, Treesha walked confidently onto the stage when her name was announced. She greeted President Droupadi Murmu with folded hands. Her poised smile and innocent charm instantly lit up the auditorium. Even stars seated in the front row, including Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukerji, applauded and smiled warmly as the young talent collected her award. The child actor’s heartfelt presence became one of the most talked-about moments of the ceremony.
Treesha Thosar’s Emotional Reaction to Winning the Award
Following her big win, Treesha shared her joy and pride on Instagram. Her caption reflected both innocence and maturity, “I still don’t fully understand what I have achieved, but I do know this much—that through this award, the name of my Maharashtra state and my entire family has been elevated. And as my mother said, in the past 70 years of National Awards, I am the youngest child artist ever to receive this honour.”
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Best Child Artist Category at the National Film Awards 2025
Treesha shared the prestigious award with other promising talents who also left a mark on the big screen, as the Best Child Artist category this year also recognised Sukriti Bandireddi for Gandhi Thatha Chettu, Kabir Khandare for Gypsy and Shrinivas Pokale along with Bhargav Jagtap for Naal 2. Together, this talented lineup represents the bright future of Indian cinema, with each young actor bringing fresh energy and heartfelt emotion to their performances.
Naal 2: The Acclaimed Marathi Drama That Won Hearts
Treesha’s award-winning role came in Naal 2 (Bond), a 2023 Marathi-language drama film written and directed by Sudhakar Reddy Yakkanti. Produced by Nagraj Manjule under the banner of Aatpat Production in association with Zee Studios, the movie serves as a sequel to the 2018 film Naal, which itself had won a National Award at the 66th edition.
The sequel continues the heartfelt exploration of family, belonging and emotional bonds. The narrative follows Chaitu (Shrinivas Pokale), who travels with his foster parents Shankar (Nagraj Manjule) and Sumi (Devika Daftardar) to his ancestral village. There, he reconnects with his biological parents — Ajinath Lokhande (Jitendra Joshi) and Parvati (Deepti Devi) as well as his siblings Mani (Bhargav Jagtap) and Chimi (Treesha Thosar).
Chimi, portrayed by Treesha, initially struggles to accept Chaitu as part of her family, creating emotional tension that drives the narrative forward. Meanwhile, Mani, who has developmental challenges, builds a unique bond with Chaitu, offering a contrast in the siblings’ acceptance. Alongside the main story, subplots involving Shankar’s extended family add layers of complexity and realism to the storytelling.