San Jose, California:
The 3rd NAFA (North American Film Association) Marathi Film Festival 2026, organized in association with the Government of Maharashtra, kicked off with a glamourous Hollywood-style red carpet ceremony in San Jose, California. The atmosphere in San Jose resonated with Maharashtrian cultural enthusiasm as prominent stars and filmmakers from the Marathi film industry made stylish red-carpet appearances.
The highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of the prestigious NAFA Lifetime Achievement Award to veteran theater and cinema actress Rohini Hattangadi for her stellar career in Hindi and Marathi cinema and theater. NAFA Founder-President Abhijit Gholap presented the honor in the presence of NAFA co-conveners Archana Saraf, Riya Thosar, senior member Shri Thanedar, and other dignitaries.
In her acceptance speech, an emotional Rohini Hattangadi dedicated the award to her parents, her guru Ebrahim Alkazi, her late husband Jaydev Hattangadi, and her fellow actors, directors, writers, and producers. She stated, “I still have a lot of work ahead of me. Receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award doesn’t mean I am going to sit at home. Since this is my first award outside India, it holds a very special and emotional place in my heart.”
NAFA: A Cultural Celebration Beyond Cinema
Highlighting the vision of the festival, NAFA Founder-President Abhijit Gholap remarked, “NAFA is not merely a film festival on the silver screen; it is a vibrant cultural platform celebrating Marathi language, culture, art, and heritage on American soil. With the support of the Maharashtra Government, this initiative has gained immense strength. Following legends like Dilip Prabhavalkar and Amol Palekar, honoring Rohini Hattangadi on this stage is a moment of great pride for NAFA.”
Star-Studded Red Carpet
The red carpet featured a blending of traditional Maharashtrian attire, Indian heritage, and modern global fashion styles. Leading figures of Marathi cinema, including Mahesh Kothare, Atul Kulkarni, Prasad Oak, Ajinkya Deo, Girija Oak, Shruti Marathe, Archana Joglekar, Nagraj Manjule, Trupti Bhoir, Sai Deodhar, and producers Manjiri Oak and Gargi Kulkarni, captivated attendees.
Hosted at the iconic California Theatre in San Jose, the three-day festival includes panel discussions, masterclasses, world premieres, and special screenings of feature and short films, making it a monumental moment for the global Marathi community.