Q. Eyebrows are bound to be raised since Akshay Kumar and you have collaborated over many movies in the past?

Priyadarshan: Should we not have honoured Akshay because we’ve worked together? If he’s good he’s good , no matter who honours him. For that matter another dear friend of mine Mohanlal has won the Special Jury Award for three films Pulimurugan, JanathaGarage and Munthirivallikal Thalirkkumbol. He is the only actor apart from Prakash Raj to have won a National award for his performances in films of two different languages.

Incidentally we did not include the fourth outstanding performance by Mohanlal in Oppam because I directed Oppam.