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After ruling Bollywood for more than three decades, Shah Rukh Khan has finally earned his first-ever National Film Award–thanks to his performance in the 2023 blockbuster Jawan, directed by Atlee. Shah Rukh shares the award with Vikrant Massey, who was recognised for his powerful portrayal in 12th Fail, directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra.
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This milestone comes after years of commercial success and critical acclaim for SRK, who has previously won 14 Filmfare Awards from 30 nominations–eight of those for Best Actor, tying him with the legendary Dilip Kumar for the most wins in that category. Although he received the Padma Shri in 2005 and international honours including the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and the Legion of Honour from France, a National Award had long eluded the superstar–until now.
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Shah Rukh Khan’s frequent collaborator Rani Mukerji also received her first National Award, winning Best Actress for her emotionally charged performance in Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway. The actress, who made her debut in 1996 with the Bengali film Biyer Phool followed by Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat in Hindi, was lauded by critics and the audience for her nuanced portrayal of a mother battling a foreign legal system for her children.
Apart from these individual wins, a diverse set of films made their mark at this year’s National Film Awards ceremony. 12th Fail not only earned Vikrant Massey the Best Actor award but also won Best Feature Film. The film had a remarkable theatrical run, lasting over 100 days–an increasingly rare feat in today’s fast-moving cinematic landscape.
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Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Animal was recognised in multiple technical categories, including Best Music Direction (Background Score), Best Sound Design, and a Special Mention for Re-recording Mixer. The quirky social satire Kathal: A Jackfruit Mystery was named Best Hindi Film, while Sam Bahadur, starring Vicky Kaushal, took home awards for Best Makeup, Best Costume Design, and Best Feature Film Promoting National, Social, and Environmental Values.
Jawan also earned a win in the Best Female Playback Singer category (Shilpa Rao). Meanwhile, Sudipto Sen was recognised as Best Director for The Kerala Story, led by Adah Sharma.
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In a nod to mainstream cinema, Karan Johar’s vibrant romantic drama Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani received the National Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. The film starred actors Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt in the lead roles.
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