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From Maharashtra to Hollywood: NAFA Festival Brings Marathi Glamour to San Jose Rohini Hattangadi Scripts History with Her First International Honour at NAFA 2026 Marathi Art and Culture Celebrated at America's Prestigious NAFA Marathi Film Festival! California, San Jose (Correspondent): The third edition of the NAFA Marathi Film Festival 2026, organised in association with the Government of Maharashtra, opened with a glittering red-carpet ceremony befitting Hollywood's glamour. Amid the flashing lights of cameras, the grand arrival of leading stars from the Marathi film industry filled the atmosphere in San Jose with unmistakable Marathi enthusiasm. At the ceremony, veteran actress Rohini Hattangadi, celebrated for her illustrious career spanning Hindi-Marathi cinema and theatre, was presented with the prestigious 'NAFA Jeevan Gaurav' award in recognition of her brilliant artistic journey. The honour was conferred by NAFA's founder-president Abhijit Gholap. The occasion was attended by several dignitaries, including NAFA co-convenors Archana Saraf and Riya Thosar, and senior member Mr. Thanedar. Her First Award Outside India Rohini Hattangadi dedicated the honour to her parents who shaped her artistic journey, her guru Ebrahim Alkazi, her husband Jaydev Hattangadi, and her fellow actors, directors, writers, artists and producers. "I still have a lot of work left to do," she said. "Winning this Jeevan Gaurav does not mean I plan to sit at home. This is my first award outside India, which makes this honour especially special and emotional for me." She thanked Abhijit Gholap and the entire NAFA team for the wonderful event. 'NAFA' Is Not Just a Film Festival — It's a Cultural Movement Abhijit Gholap said that NAFA is not merely a film festival tied to the silver screen, but a cultural platform that celebrates the Marathi language, culture, art and traditions on American soil. He noted that the festival has gained further momentum this year thanks to the support of the Government of Maharashtra, and that the younger generation is participating enthusiastically in this effort to preserve and promote Marathi language and culture. He recalled that the NAFA Jeevan Gaurav award had previously been presented to actor Dilip Prabhavalkar and actor-director Amol Palekar, and said it was a proud moment for NAFA to now honour Rohini Hattangadi from that same distinguished league — an association that, he added, only enriches NAFA's platform further. Marathi Celebrities' 'Swag' Lights Up the Red Carpet This year's red carpet showcased the unmistakable 'swag' of Marathi celebrities. Their outfits reflected a striking blend of styles — from traditional Maharashtrian attire to contemporary Indian and Western fashion. Each artist made a red-carpet entry in a look that suited their individual personality, drawing the attention of everyone present. Girija Oak, Shruti Marathe, Archana Joglekar, Sai Devdhar and Dr. Gauri Gholap turned heads with their elegant, stylish and glamorous outfits, their confident poise sparking special conversation among Marathi audiences in America. Mahesh Kothare, Abhijit Gholap and Ajinkya Deo brought their own star appeal through sharp, personality-suited Western attire. Veteran actress Rohini Hattangadi, along with Trupti Bhoir, producer Manjiri Oak, Neelima Kothare, Archana Saraf, Riya Thosar and Mansi Devlekar, made graceful and classic appearances in outfits suited to their personas, while director Nagraj Manjule and actors Atul Kulkarni and Prasad Oak drew attention with their effortless, natural style. Producer Gargi Kulkarni's chic, sophisticated look further added to the red carpet's charm. Blending tradition, modernity, Indian sensibility and global fashion, the Marathi artists offered a striking glimpse of Maharashtra's cultural diversity through their style, right in the heart of Hollywood. Every red-carpet entry drew enthusiastic applause from the audience, with attendees jostling to capture the stars on their mobile cameras. Gala Dinner Brings Together Marathi Artists and Distinguished American Guests As per NAFA's tradition, a Gala Dinner was hosted the previous evening at the residence of NAFA founder-president Abhijit Gholap, bringing together Marathi artists alongside distinguished members of the American community. Over the next two days of the three-day NAFA festival at the California Theatre in San Jose, the event will feature panel discussions, workshops and entertainment programmes, along with world premieres and special screenings of several feature films and short films. This dazzling edition of the NAFA Film Festival 2026 — planting the flag of Marathi cinema and celebrating Marathi culture in the heart of Hollywood — stands as a moment of pride for