Sooraj R Barjatya has won the Best Director award at the 70th National Film Awards for his film 'Uunchai', marking his return to recognition 30 years after his first win for 'Hum Aapke Hain Koun'. He expressed deep gratitude for this honor, reflecting on his journey in cinema and the importance of storytelling. 'Uunchai', featuring a stellar cast including Amitabh Bachchan and Neena Gupta, tells the story of three elderly friends trekking to Everest Base Camp to fulfill a late friend's wish. Neena Gupta also won Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film. Other notable winners include Rishabh Shetty for Best Actor in 'Kantara' and a tie for Best Actress between Nithya Menen and Manasi Parekh. The awards celebrate the diversity and talent across Indian cinema for films released in 2022.