Anshuman Jha’s directorial debut Lord Curzon Ki Haveli starring Arjun Mathur won the best director and the best actor trophies at the UK-Asian Film Festival (UKAFF) 2024, the makers of the film said in a statement.

On Saturday, the film was screened at the Regent Street cinema, London, where it received a standing ovation. The film has been making rounds at film festivals for the past six months. However the screening at the UKAFF was the British premiere for the film that was shot entirely in Yorkshire.

The Lord Curzon Ki Haveli team was present at the festival where it secured the two wins.

Anshuman, who has starred in several films including the 2023 action thriller Lakadbaggha, said, “This win feels like a full circle for it has come in the UK. The film is about Asians in the West, identity, immigrants… thereby we are thrilled on the win in London. Because we shot the film in the UK and have been travelling with it around the world and now to win at our British premiere is something I am truly grateful for. Especially for Arjun because I truly feel this film is one of his finest, if not his best performance. Films need to entertain and ask questions.”

“I had taken the decision to pursue acting while in London in the year 2000. And winning this award here feels cathartic. I want to thank Anshuman for giving me Rohit and for putting the process in the forefront. We had such focused fun during this film. And he has made exactly the film he narrated to me on his first narration. We had a lot of fun doing this together,” said Arjun, who plays a major role in the Amazon Prime series Made in Heaven.

Lord Curzon Ki Haveli is the first mainstream Indian film shot entirely using a single lens technique.