Anupam Kher announced that this year a cash prize of Rs 20,000 will be awarded to the winner in the Best Performance in a Leading Role category, in addition to Rs 30,000 to the Best Narrative Feature Film Award and Rs 20,000 to the Best Indian Short Film respectively at South Asia's biggest and India’s only mainstream lesbian, gay and transgender film festival. 

This is the third year in a row that the actor’s institute is sponsoring cash prizes for the winners.

"Actor Prepares is proud to support KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival. Over the last six years, KASHISH has become one of the prestigious cultural events in Mumbai. Indie film makers struggle to find resources and finances, but despite these obvious handicaps have been making good films. Actor Prepares by sponsoring cash awards for the filmmakers and the actors hope to encourage the next generation of filmmakers, who are making films on a community that is marginalized. At Actor Prepares our mission is to identify and groom new talent and encouraging the emerging filmmakers takes this forward by furthering the cause of good cinema,’’ said Anupam Kher.

Festival director Sridhar Rangayan welcomed the internationally acclaimed actor’s continued support to the festival, especially the new cash prize for the winner of the best actor award.

 “We are truly overwhelmed by Mr. Anupam Kher’s support to the festival and the cause of films that push boundaries. As an actor he has not been afraid to take up challenging roles in films and he has underlined his commitment to support actors who dare to take up roles that go against the stereotypes,” said Rangayan adding, “Mr. Anupam Kher’s thrust towards excellence in cinema is indeed gratifying.”

KASHISH 2015 will be held between May 27 - May 31 at the iconic Liberty Cinema, Alliance Française de Bombay (AFB) and Max Mueller Bhavan. KASHISH this year promises to be bigger and grander, with a lineup of around 180 films from 44 countries.