Theater personality Anahita Uberoi and sprinter cum long distance runner Khurshid Mistry were awarded the Shakti Award in the performing arts and sports category from the Rotary District 3141 on March 11, 2023 at the Trident Hotel. The Awards recognize "outstanding women in their respective fields, ranging from the armed services to sports, para sports, frontline workers, education, literature, social innovators as well as entrepreneurs.” Other awardees included actor Vidya Balan, educationist Neerja Birla, artist Jayasri Burman, social innovator Amla Ruia and medical worker Dr Aquinas Edassery.
"To be recognized alongside such remarkable women was truly an honor….The kind of work they do, their achievements, the way their work impacts society at large,” Uberoi told Parsiana on March 19. "It made it very clear that day, that if we all focus on our work and personal lives with great focus and passion but while doing so, find ways to empower others and do that with warmth and generosity, we will contribute in ways that are far more meaningful.”
Actor, director, theater-teacher and producer, Uberoi has worked extensively in New York, Bombay and Germany over the last 33 years. At present she can be seen in Sony Liv’s Rocket Boys. The daughter of veteran thespians of Bombay, Farrokh and Vijaya Mehta, she is in the process of directing a play that will open next month as part of the Aadyam theater festival. Trained at the Herbert Berghof Studio in New York, Uberoi worked as an assistant director in New York on 15 productions, both on and off Broadway, with Oscar award and Tony award winning directors, actors and playwrights. Her work on the Bombay stage includes Agnes of God and she has directed Gaa Re Maa, Bombay Black, Mothers Have 9 Lives, Going Solo 1, Going Solo 2 among others.
Anahita Uberoi (l) and Khurshid Mistry
Mistry said she was "humbled” by the award. "I am incredibly proud to be a woman athlete, and I believe that sports can empower women and girls to become strong, confident and successful. This award will motivate me to continue to work hard and make a positive impact in the world of sports,” she communicated to Parsiana on March 20. She hoped that the award will serve as an inspiration to young girls and women who aspire to pursue their dreams in sports. "I hope to continue to be a role model for them and to encourage them to never give up on their goals.”
Sport has been her "fervor since her school days.” The Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon 2008 offered her an opportunity to reignite this passion. Primarily a sprinter whose forte is 100, 200 and 400 m, she has also started running marathons. "Both sprinting and marathon running … are very different and require different training and skill sets. Marathons require more of endurance training while sprinting is all about speed, strength and quick reflexes.”
Mistry’s many wins include gold in nine state level Masters Athletic Meets and nine national Masters Athletic Meets for 100 m, 200 m and 400 m. The athlete has represented India at the World Masters Games at New Zealand, the Asian Masters Athletic Meet when she won a gold, International Meet at Brunei (where she won five golds), among others. Having won 38 half Marathons and 25 10 km, Mistry won five gold medals in the February 2023 National Masters Games and set a new record for 100, 200 and 400 m sprinting.
Rotary District 3141 encompasses the Bombay and Palghar area, with a total number of 109 clubs. It is reportedly recognized as one of the most vibrant districts in the world.