By Subhash K. Jha, IANS

Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut is on cloud nine after bagging the best debutant award for her role in her debut vehicle, 'Gangster - A Love Story', at the Asian Festival Of 1st Films in Singapore.

She's the first Indian actress to win the prestigious award.

Recalling the thrill of winning her first award, Kangana told IANS: 'It was Kunal Kohli who informed me about the award. My life's first award and that too in Singapore where I was pitched against three other names!'

The nominees for the award also included Aditi Rao Hydari, for her moving portrayal of a vulnerable devdasi (temple dancer), in debutant director Sharda Ramanathan's Tamil film 'Sringaram'.

But if transparent vulnerability and a power to strip the soul naked in front of the camera are the favoured flavour of the awards season this year, then Kangana in director Anurag Basu's 'Gangster' is the leader of the bright young pack.

The Asian Festival Of 1st Films acquires a special significance because films from all over the world compete for the honours.

The jury members this year, who chose Kangana, included Hong Kong actress Cecilia Yip, American writer-producer James Hart, British filmmaker Michael Yorke and India's own Ketan Mehta.

'I'm swimming in the clouds. This isn't only my first award it's also an international award. And I'm the first Indian actress award to get it!' enthused Kangana.

'Unfortunately, I couldn't be there at Singapore to receive my first award.

By the time I came to know about it, and that I was required to collect my best debutant award on Dec 6, it was too late to get a visa. I tried my best though.'

Apparently, Vishesh Films hadn't entered 'Gangster' in the festival until filmmaker Kunal Kohli pointed out the keen possibility of Kangana winning the best debutant award.

Once the film made its way casually to Singapore, no organisation in Mumbai or Singapore was willing to fund the actress' travel to the city state.

'If that was the case I'd have happily paid for my own ticket to Singapore.

The best debutant award at the Asian Festival Of 1st Films was not only a great honour for me personally but also for our movie industry.

'No Indian actress has ever received the award. I'd have been very proud to be there. I guess this is one of those things that wasn't meant to be,' said Kangana.

Days later she received her second award - the best debutante of the year - at the Global Indian Film Awards (GIFA) concluded on in Kuala Lumpur.

One question that remains after Kangana's singular victory at Singapore - Why is Bollywood so reluctant and disorganised in facing up to the requirements of international festivals?

Two months ago Shirish Kunder's directorial debut 'Jaan-e-Mann' couldn't make it to a festival in New York on time. And now Kangana fails to make it to Singapore for an honour never given to any actress in Bollywood.

Maybe Bollywood needs to get seriously organised before thinking international.