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Veteran actor Khalid Ahmad's hardwork has finally paid off.

The star bagged the best actor trophy for Sakina Samo's directorial debut Intezar at the Harlem International Film festival.

Samo took to Instagram to celebrate the news with fans and followers.

"Khalid Ahmed sahb wins the Best Actor award for Intezar (Waiting) at the Harlem International Film Festival in New York. I am delighted for him," the Mera Naseeb actor announced. "Congratulations. It's the first international award to a Pakistani actor. Correct me if I’m wrong."

Speaking to Images, Ahmed too, confessed his enthusiasm about the success, speaking about how the recognition abroad made up for the lack thereof, here at home.

"I feel very happy and especially encouraged because this is the first acting award I've ever received in my whole life. I have never received a single award in Pakistan, ever, so getting an international award is a great feeling," he revealed.

"It is a brilliantly written script by Bee Gul and a very modest film in terms of its production. But it's a film with layers and layers of meaning and insight into human life," he further added.

"The interaction between the young and the old, the old and the old, and also the young and the young. It is about age and ageing.”

While the film's local release got delayed due to the unfortunate coronavirus, it is expected to be available for audiences in Pakistan soon; with Samina Ahmed, Kaif Ghaznavi, Raza Ali Abid and Adnan Jaffar in other lead roles.

Header photo by HomeLoveLifestyle