Shefali Shah, Jaideep Ahlawat, and Avinash Arun Dhaware emerged as winners at the 2023 New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF), which celebrated and showcased new Indian cinema to the diaspora and global audience. The festival, which took place from May 11 to 14, featured an impressive lineup of 35 films, including dramas, documentaries, and short films, highlighting the depth and range of contemporary Indian cinema.

The highly acclaimed film "Saudi Vellakka" was honoured with the Best Film award, while Avinash Arun Dhaware received the Best Director award for his critically acclaimed film "Three of Us," featuring Shefali Shah, Jaideep Ahlawat, and Swanand Kirkire.