“For Me, Awards Are a Responsibility to Do Better,” Says Aaishvary Thackeray After Winning Best Debut for Nishaanchi

Mumbai: Actor Aaishvary Thackeray achieved a major milestone in his career by winning the Best Debut Male (Jury Choice) award at the News18 Showsha Reel Awards 2026. He received the honour for his impressive performance in filmmaker Anurag Kashyap’s film Nishaanchi.
The award is particularly special for Aaishvary as it marks the first award of his acting career. The actor also shared the special moment with his fans on social media.
After winning the award, Aaishvary posted a few pictures on Instagram @aaishvarythackeray proudly holding the trophy and wrote in the caption: “The very first. Thank you CNN News18. Thank you to my family on Nishaanchi.”His post soon received congratulatory messages from many members of the film fraternity. Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap’s daughter Aaliyah Kashyap commented, “Most deserved,” while actress Pooja Bedi praised his performance and wrote, “You deserve that and more. You were phenomenal, and I can’t wait to see more of you on screen.”
Expresses Gratitude in Acceptance Speech
While accepting the award, Aaishvary Thackeray thanked the jury members including Priyadarshan, Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, Tanvi Azmi, Saurabh Sachdeva, Shruti Mahajan, Mahima Chaudhry, and Tavishi Paitandy.

He also expressed special gratitude to the film’s director Anurag Kashyap, saying that beginning his journey in cinema under his guidance was a privilege.
“I would like to thank my director Anurag sir for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to be a part of his cinema. Many people call him a genius or a maverick, but I feel fortunate that I started my journey with such an honest creator,” he said.

Aaishvary also thanked his co-stars Vedika Pinto, Monika Panwar, Zeeshan Ayyub, Kumud Mishra, and Vineet Kumar Singh for their support.

Speaking about the significance of the award, he said that such recognition is not just a moment of joy but also a great responsibility.
“For me, nights like this – when I receive an award and people applaud – are not just validation. They are a responsibility to do better, to tell better stories, to refine my craft, and to continue growing as an artist,” he added.
At the end of his speech, Aaishvary also recited a short shayari written by himself, saying:
“Raste main apne banaunga,
Galtiyan meri ab na badhaunga,
Kamiyabi paane ke baad bhi
Duniya sabko sunaunga.”
With his powerful performance in Nishaanchi and this prestigious recognition, Aaishvary Thackeray has established himself as a promising new talent in the film industry.
@aaishvarythackeray