“I am from the National School of Drama, so I am not alien to acting”, says Swanand Kirkire, who has made a strong foothold in the music space.

Kirkire, popularly known as a lyricist, writer and playback singer, recently won the National Award in Best Supporting Actor category for his heartwarming performance in Marathi film Chumbak.

“I do not question the journey. I don’t know what will happen next. But acting is the new fulfilment that I have found and I would like to explore that more,” he added.

Kirkire, who has played smaller parts in Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, Chameli and Badrinath Ki Dulhania, graduated from the NSD in 1996 and started doing theatre.

“Acting came in my life in a special way. I am happy doing what I am doing. I am not acting for surviving, I am happy writing scripts and lyrics,” he said.He played the role of a mentally-ill middle-aged village man, Prasanna in Chumbak, which was presented by Akshay Kumar.

“I told the director if you think I can do it, I will do it. I don’t have any judgement or any experience of watching myself on screen. I have worked with seasoned actors they know how it looks on-screen when they do something, I don’t have that.

“For this part, I surrendered to my director. It is him, the editor and a lot of people who should get the credit for my work,” the lyricist-actor said.He is proud to be the only lyricist to have won the National Award in the acting category.