Indian-American actress and M4M star Jo Sharma was honored with the NAFA Recognition Award at the 3rd North American Film Association (NAFA) Marathi Film Festival that was held in San Jose, California, from August 7 to 9, 2026. Prominent Marathi actor Ajinkya Deo presented the award during the three-day event.
At the three-day festival, Jo Sharma walked the red carpet and received her award in the media lounge. Many big names from Marathi cinema attended the event, including Veteran stars like Rohini Hattangadi, Ajinkya Deo, Prasad Oak and Mahesh Kothare. Amid the new gen stars like Trupti Bhoir and Sai Deodhar, the event also witnessed the presence of popular actors and directors like Atul Kulkarni, Nagraj Manjule, and Shruti Marathe.
Marathi audiences connected with Jo Sharma and their favourite stars
The festival featured a glamorous red carpet, film premieres, masterclasses, Meet & Greet sessions, M4M-2 Movie Auditions and engaging interactions with artists, giving Marathi audiences across America an opportunity to connect with their favourite stars. It also showcased a curated selection of international short films, highlighting emerging and diverse filmmaking talent from around the world.
Special thanks were expressed to Dr. Harsha Muley for making it possible, along with Mansi Deoleker, Rucha Kshirsagar, Mayura Khatawker, Snehal Aathwale, Smita, Sneha, Shruti and Shubhda Ingole for their valuable support.
For three memorable days, San Jose became a vibrant hub of Marathi cinema. In its third year, NAFA once again strengthened the connection between Marathi filmmakers and audiences worldwide while celebrating the rich culture, talent and spirit of Marathi filmmaking on an international platform.
Jan Neta – movie review (Jana Nayagan)
Jo Sharma is an Indian-American actress from San Francisco, USA. She is the lead actress in Tollywood and Bollywood. She is the heroine of the PAN-India movie M4M (Motive of Murder) and won multiple best actress awards from International Film Festivals.
