Veteran actor Paresh Rawal recently sparked a debate about the integrity of award shows in India and beyond, suggesting that lobbying plays a role even in prestigious awards like the National Awards and the Oscars.

Rawal, known for his candor and wit, shared his perspective on the award culture during a conversation with content creator Raj Shamani. He stated that while he doesn't know much about awards, he believes there is some degree of lobbying involved in the National Awards, though perhaps not as much as in other award ceremonies. He emphasized that the National Award still holds prestige.

Rawal went on to say, "Lobbying toh Oscar Awards mein bhi hoti hai,". He explained this by saying, "Haan bhaiya, Raj ki picture hai. Chalo jitne academy ke jitne members hote hain sabko whip up kiya jaata hai". This suggests that campaigns may be orchestrated to influence academy members in favor of certain films.

While Rawal acknowledged the role of lobbying, he also shared what kind of recognition truly matters to him. According to Rawal, the real acknowledgement comes from the director and the writer. When a director is happy with his work, that is the award for him.

Rawal has been part of the Hindi film industry for the last 40 years. This isn't the first time Rawal has spoken about the National Awards. In April 2025, he revealed that he was supposed to receive a National Award for his performance in Sardar, but lost out due to lobbying. He added that he was made aware of lobbying and corruption when his film 'Sir' (1993) won the National Award. He called the National Awards 'a game'.

Rawal's comments come at a time when there is already intense scrutiny of award ceremonies and their selection processes. His statements are likely to fuel further discussion about transparency and fairness in the entertainment industry.