Rajkumar Hirani and Vicky Kaushal receive awards at IFFM 2018
Rajkumar Hirani and Vicky Kaushal receive awards at IFFM 2018Twitter

Director Rajkumar Hirani's Sanju starring Ranbir Kapoor has won four coveted awards at the IFFM 2018 (Indian Film Festival of Melbourne), which is held in Melbourne, Australia between August 10 and 22.

The IFFM is a Victorian government initiative that aims to strengthen ties between the Indian film industry and Victoria. This festival was started in 2012 and the organiser of the event had recently announced the nomination list for its 2018 edition. Seven international and Australian filmmakers and industry professionals watched all the movies and finalised the winners.

Sanju was nominated in the best film category and it has emerged as the winner, beating others like Padman, Hichki, Padmaavat, Secret Superstar, Raazi, Mahanati and Rangasthalam. Rajkumar Hirani has beaten 10 other ace filmmakers including R Balki (Padman) and Sanjay Leela Bhansali (Padmaavat). Ranbir Kapoor was honoured with the Vanguard award on this occasion.

Vicky Kaushal also picked up the award for best performance in supporting role for his acting in Sanju. The elated actor tweeted a photo and wrote, "I was an AD giving claps for scenes in GoW. Today, receiving an award along with @BajpayeeManoj Sir on the same platform of @IFFMelb, this journey has only been possible because I got to observe & learn from fine actors like him. Thank You Sardar Khan! "

Sanju is a biopic on Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt and it has been written and directed by Rajkumar Hirani. The movie throws light on Sanjay's drug addiction, arrest for association with the 1993 Bombay blasts, relationship with his father, comeback in the industry, and his eventual release after completing his jail term.

Sanju has not only become a critically-acclaimed movie, but also a blockbuster success at the box office with its collection reaching Rs 585 crore gross in the global market. Now, it is the time for the movie to create buzz in the award ceremonies and the IFFM 2018 has become the first among them.

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