DIVYA DELHI : Young Indian actor Rian Mukherjee has won the Best Child Actor Award at the prestigious Los Angeles Film Awards (LAFA) 2026 for his performance in the Hindi film Manzil. The achievement marks a significant international recognition for the debutant actor, who plays Aron, the son of Rituparna Sengupta’s character, Ananya, in the film. Directed by National Award-winning filmmaker Ram Kamal Mukherjee, Rian’s father, Manzil also features Rituparna Sengupta, Sanjay Suri and Abhishek Kumar in lead roles. Produced under the banners of Dhanbad Talkies and Endeavour Films, the film follows the story of a writer and a photographer who accidentally meet at a resort. Expressing his happiness over the recognition, Ram Kamal Mukherjee said he was delighted that the international jury appreciated Rian’s performance. He described his son as a gifted actor, highlighting his natural confidence in front of the camera despite having no formal acting training. Rituparna Sengupta, who plays Rian’s mother in the film and also serves as its creative producer, praised the young actor. She said she had watched him grow up and believed he would make a strong impression when he was cast in the role. Jury member and veteran actor Jean Vincentelli also commended Rian’s performance, citing his natural screen presence and restrained voice modulation. According to Vincentelli, Rian competed against international child actors and emerged as the winner through his performance. Rian was the only Indian winner at LAFA 2026. Other award recipients included Jingnu Ning, whose film A Palmful of Stars won Best Picture, and Nazakati Maihemuti, who received Best Actress for the same film. Phil Aman won Best Actor for Soundcheck. Calling himself an “accidental actor,” Rian said he enjoys acting because it gives him an opportunity to watch his father work closely and learn from his dedication to filmmaking. The film is currently making its way through international film festivals, bringing further attention to the young actor’s debut performance.
