Massive Fake Award Scam Uncovered
Sprouts Successfully Files FIR Against Fraudulent Organization
Unmesh Gujarathi
Sprouts Exclusive
A shocking scam involving fake Dadasaheb Phalke awards has been exposed, revealing a massive network of fraudsters selling awards under the prestigious name. These awards, falsely marketed as prestigious honors in Indian cinema, were sold to actors, filmmakers, and even government officials for hefty sums.
Mumbai Police has filed an FIR against Anil Mishra and his son Abhishek Mishra for orchestrating this fraudulent scheme. The case, registered at Bandra Police Station on February 5, 2025, follows a complaint by Sameer Pandurang Dixit, President of the BJP’s Chitrapat Aghadi Unit. Investigative newspaper Sprouts has been at the forefront of exposing the scam, uncovering shocking details about how these fake awards were distributed and monetized.
The Fake Award Business Model
Anil Mishra, originally from Gorakhpur and residing in Malad, Mumbai, started his career as a spot boy before establishing the Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival Award (DPIFF), a completely unauthenticated and unregistered entity. Through this organization, he sold Best Actor and Best Actress awards to actors, regardless of their film credentials. Even flop actors were able to buy awards to boost their careers.
Beyond Bollywood, Mishra expanded his scam to government tourism departments, falsely claiming that his awards had official recognition. He extracted sponsorship money worth crores by deceiving officials into believing his events had Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s endorsement.
Sprouts’ investigation has revealed that his website fraudulently displayed photos of President Droupadi Murmu, Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP President J.P. Nadda to create an illusion of legitimacy. He also falsely claimed partnerships with PVR Cinemas, ZEE-5, and OTT platforms, further misleading the public.
Also Read: Mumbai Police accepts Fake Dadasaheb Phalke Award
Bollywood Stars Trapped in the Fake Award Racket
The scam’s influence extended deep into the entertainment industry. Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan was awarded the Best Actor trophy for his film Jawan from Mishra’s fraudulent organization. Similarly, Shahid Kapoor reportedly purchased the Best Actor award for his web series Farzi, ironically named given the nature of the award itself.
Further investigations have revealed that Mishra’s entire family is involved in this racket. His wife, Parvati Mishra, son, Abhishek Mishra, and daughter, Shweta Mishra, played key roles in managing and expanding the fraudulent operation. While an FIR has already been filed against Anil and Abhishek, authorities are expected to take action against the rest of the family soon.
The real Dadasaheb Phalke Award is India’s highest cinematic honor, conferred by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting at the National Film Awards. In contrast, Mishra’s fake awards had no official recognition and were merely a money-making scheme.
Sprouts Exposes Fraudsters Exploiting India’s Film Industry
With this latest expose, Sprouts has once again played a crucial role in unmasking fraudulent activities that exploit India’s film industry.
• Mumbai Police Arrested Anil Mishra for Reaching Close to Prime Minister Modi
On October 31, 2014, Mumbai Police arrested Anil Mishra during the swearing-in ceremony of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at Wankhede Stadium. Mishra was accused of breaching the security perimeter and getting close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Following the incident, the police charged him with violating security protocols and took him into custody for questioning. Given the importance of the Prime Minister’s security, the police treated the matter seriously and initiated an investigation. However, further details about whether Mishra was later released or what actions were taken against him were not made publicly available.
• Bandra Police Filed FIR Against Anil Mishra and Abhishek Mishra
On February 5, 2025, Bandra Police registered an FIR (No. 2025) against Anil Mishra and Abhishek Mishra under Sections 318(4) and 319(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS-2023).