Nakshatra Medhekar, known for her acclaimed work in Marathi television and films, has won the Special Jury Award for Best Actress at the 12th Goa State Film Festival (2022–23) for her performance in the Konkani film Mog.
Directed by Jojo D’Souza, Mog tells a tender story of love, struggle and human relationships. Medhekar plays Selina, the daughter of a Goan baker, whose simple life is caught in layers of emotional complexities. Her portrayal of Selina was praised by the jury as authentic and deeply moving.
What makes the achievement notable is Medhekar’s preparation for the role. A Marathi actor with no prior exposure to Konkani, she learned the language from scratch, observed the Konkani-Marathi dialect spoken in Goan households, and worked on local accents to bring natural depth to the character. The jury lauded this sincerity, calling her performance the “emotional anchor of the film.”
The festival, organised by the Goa government, concluded at Panaji’s Kala Academy in the presence of Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant and other dignitaries. Mog went on to win eight awards in total, including the title of Best Feature Film (Konkani), cementing its place as the highlight of this year’s festival.
Medhekar’s journey began on television, where roles such as Pallavi (Majhiya Mahera), Sanika (Lek Majhi Ladki), Aarohi (Sur Rahu De), and Suman Kale (Chandra Aahe Sakshila) made her a household name. She later transitioned to cinema with memorable performances in Fatteshikast, Preetam, Saapla, Muktai, and most recently All Is Well (2025).
Speaking after receiving the award, Medhekar said, “This honour is more than an award — it is a new beginning. Preparing for ‘Mog’ pushed me to learn a new language and embrace a culture I wasn’t familiar with. I am grateful that the effort was recognised. This recognition motivates me to take on more meaningful, challenging roles across films, TV and web series.”
With this award, Nakshatra Medhekar has marked a strong comeback after a brief break, and both audiences and the film industry are keenly awaiting her next projects.
