Mangaluru: Roopashree Varkadi wins National Award for Best Supporting Actress

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, July 22, 2026: Actress Roopashree Varkadi, a native of Mangaluru, has expressed immense joy after winning the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the Kannada film Mithya.

"I never imagined that I would receive a National Award for my acting. This recognition has brought me immense happiness. After facing many ups and downs in my career, this award has made the journey truly worthwhile," Roopashree said while addressing a press conference at the Mangaluru Press Club.

She was joined by Mithya director Sumanth Bhat and child actor Atish, who also won a National Award for his performance in the same film.

Reflecting on her artistic journey spanning over 25 years, Roopashree said she has performed in more than 700 Kannada and Tulu plays, with over 4,000 stage performances to her credit. She began her professional theatre career with director Vijay Kumar Kodialbail’s play Samsarada Circus and has since acted with several theatre groups. She also received theatre training under Christopher Ninasam and Vidhu Uchil Rangayana.

Over the years, Roopashree has received several honours, including the Red FM Tulu Film Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2017 and 2025, and the CFA Awards organised by Sandhya Creations, where she won the Best Supporting Actress award three consecutive times along with the Versatile Actor Award.

Films featuring Roopashree have also earned major accolades. Byari won the National Award (Swarna Kamal), Jeetige received a National Award, and Triple Talaq won a Karnataka State Film Award.

A native of Vargadi village in Manjeshwar taluk, Kasaragod district, Roopashree is the daughter of Harish and the late Hemavathi. She has acted in more than 85 films across Tulu, Kannada, Konkani, Beary, and Arebhashe languages.

’A lifelong dream has come true’

Child actor Atish, who won the National Award for his role in Mithya, said the recognition fulfilled one of his biggest dreams.

"I had almost given up hope of winning a National Award as a child actor. Receiving this honour for Mithya has made one of my biggest dreams come true," he said.

’Rakshit Shetty encouraged me to become a filmmaker’

Director Sumanth Bhat credited actor Rakshit Shetty for inspiring him to enter the film industry.

"During 2008-09, while working at a software company, Rakshit Shetty and I made several documentaries together. Later, he became a successful actor. In 2020-21, he encouraged me to enter filmmaking, saying the industry needed talents like me. When I narrated the story of Mithya to him, he supported the project and took responsibility for its production. He told me not to worry about returns and simply continue making the film. I never imagined that the film would go on to win three National Awards," Sumanth Bhat said.