Director Karan Johar receives the Muslim Public Affairs Council Award for My Name Is Khan in Los Angeles. It is the film's first award.

MPAC (Muslim Public Affairs Council) has awarded the film and the director, celebrating the spirit of the film. The awards were handed out at the 19th Annual Voices of Courage and Conscience Media Award in LA.

Heartening
Johar, who is currently is the US, talks about the recognition, "It's a matter of great pride not just because Khan has received its first award, but also because it has come from such a special organisation.

The MPAC is a body that addresses Muslim causes needs especially from the Western perspective. They chose to honour Khan and the TV show Grey's Anatomy as it had a Muslim character.

It's heartening to receive such an honour, especially because the film resonated a common sentiment across age, sex and religion."

MNIK will also have the honour of being screened at prestigious art house The Angelika in New York. "This is the two- hour version of the film specially cut for the North American audience.

I have had so many people come up to me and say how various scenes and images in the film have made them draw parallels with their own life. I think it's a moment of pride for Shah Rukh and me," gushes Karan.

What's next? Dunno
Apart from attending screenings, Karan will also take some time off for himself. "I will decide during the course of the next few day what my next film will be. Even I don't know what that will be, but am sure it will come to me soon."

Reacting to Sajid Khan's statement that Housefull will supersede MNIK's box office collections in the country, KJo says, "I am happy for Housefull's success. It's very important for films to do well.

And it's a matter of honour that Sajid is comparing Housefull numbers to Khan which means the latter has become a barometer. Number- crunching is important, but at the end of the day, for me, Khan had a bigger purpose and motive than just setting box- office records."

Congratulations
He adds, "It's very important to stress that we didn't have the largest territory (Mumbai) when Khan released. But at the same time, I want to congratulate Sajid Nadiadwala and his team for the success of their film."