RIFF 2020: ‘Common Man’ Om Puri award to Anup Soni

RIFF 2020: ‘Common Man’ Om Puri award to Anup Soni

Rajasthan International Film Festival (RIFF) founder Somendra Harsh has issued a press release revealing that the ‘Common Man in Cinema Award’ will be given to Anup Soni at RIFF 2020. It has been named in honour of late Om Puri, the versatile and amazing actor, who was a part of RIFF, since the first edition. Om Puri had said that he is the custodian of RIFF and will remain so even after he leaves this world. As such, RIFF considers Om Puri still an RIFF Patron.

After his death, it was announced at the time of RIFF’s 3rd edition, in 2018, that a ‘Common Man in Cinema’ award will be given every year. In 2018, the Common Man in Cinema Award was given to noted actor and director Ananth  Mahadevan. In 2019, the Common Man in Cinema Award was given to renowned actor Sushant Singh. It will be given to Anup Soni in the 2020 edition. Anup Soni is a graduate of the National School of Drama (NSD), educated under eminent theatre personalities like RamGopal Bajaj, Barry John, Anuradha Kapoor, Naseeruddin Shah and many more. Anup is a prominent face in Theatre, Films and TV.

Anup Soni started his career with roles in television serials such as Sea Hawks, directed by Anubhav Sinha, and then popular serials like Balika Vadhu and CID Special Bureau. He then took a break from television to work in films. He appeared in films like Hum Pyaar Tum Hi Se Kar Baithe , Gangajal, Apharan, Khushi, Footpath and Hathyar. Soni also anchors the very popular serial, Crime Patrol, on TV. Recently, he played the main negative role in his first Marathi film Fatteshikast. He is currently starring in web series for Netflix, Amazon and Hot Star, and also doing some films. His stage play Ballygunge 1990 is a suspense thriller, playing successfully in the Theatre Circuit.