71st National Film Awards: Shah Rukh Khan Wins Best Actor for the First Time, Vikrant Massey Shines for 12th Fail, Rani Mukerji Bags Best Actress. Shah Rukh Khan wins his first-ever National Award for Best Actor for Jawan and Dunki, Vikrant Massey honored for 12th Fail, and Rani Mukerji wins Best Actress for Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway. Kathal was declared Best Hindi Feature Film at the 71st National Film Awards 2025.
71st National Film Awards 2025: Full Coverage & Winner Highlights
The 71st National Film Awards, one of India’s most prestigious film honors, were announced on August 1, 2025, celebrating cinematic brilliance across various Indian languages and formats. This year’s edition created a buzz, especially with Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan winning Best Actor for the first time in his 30+ year career.
From socially relevant films like 12th Fail to emotional dramas like Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway, and satirical gems like Kathal, the awards rightly recognized artistic merit and powerful storytelling.
Best Actor: Shah Rukh Khan (Jawan and Dunki)
For the very first time in his illustrious career, Shah Rukh Khan took home the National Award for Best Actor. The jury honored him for his dual performance in Atlee’s action-packed Jawan and Rajkumar Hirani’s emotional drama Dunki.
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In Jawan, he played a vigilante and his father in a double role, balancing commercial flair with emotional depth.
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In Dunki, he delivered a nuanced performance dealing with illegal immigration and dreams of the middle class.
His win is being called a “historic moment” for both fans and Indian cinema alike.
Best Actress: Rani Mukerji (Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway)
Rani Mukerji’s powerful portrayal of a mother battling a foreign legal system in Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway earned her the Best Actress title.
Based on a true story, the film showcased Rani’s impeccable acting range — from vulnerability to rage — as she fought for her children’s custody against Norway’s child welfare services. The emotionally stirring performance received critical acclaim and now, a National Award to her name.
Special Mention: Vikrant Massey (12th Fail)
Vikrant Massey was honored with a Special Jury Award for his career-defining role in 12th Fail. Playing the role of Manoj Kumar Sharma, a real-life IPS officer who rose from poverty and failure, Vikrant won hearts with his restrained, grounded, and sincere acting.
The film resonated with aspirants across India, particularly those from rural and humble backgrounds. His performance became an anthem of hope and resilience — and this recognition validates his extraordinary effort.
Best Hindi Feature Film: Kathal
Netflix’s Kathal, starring Sanya Malhotra, bagged the Best Hindi Feature Film award. A satirical comedy with a strong social message, Kathal cleverly explored caste politics, police system inefficiency, and rural administration, all wrapped in humor.
The plot centers around a bizarre investigation involving stolen jackfruits and opens up into a larger commentary on justice, priorities, and power misuse.
Who won the National Award for Best Actor in 2025?
Announcing the awards this evening in New Delhi, the Chairperson of the Feature Film Jury, Ashutosh Gowariker, declared that Shah Rukh Khan and Vikrant Massey have jointly won the National Film Award for Best Actor in 2025. Shah Rukh Khan was honored for his performance in Jawan, while Vikrant Massey received the award for his powerful role in 12th Fail.
Other Key Winners of the 71st National Awards
| Category | Winner / Film |
|---|---|
| Best Director | Sudipto Sen (The Kerala Story) |
| Best Feature Film | 2018: Everyone is a Hero (Malayalam) |
| Best Supporting Actor | Pankaj Tripathi (OMG 2) |
| Best Supporting Actress | Dipali Sai (Laal Batti) |
| Best Editing | Nitin Baid (Jawan) |
| Best Screenplay | Abhijat Joshi & Rajkumar Hirani (Dunki) |
| Best Child Artist | Aadhya Anand (School of Lies) |
| Best Debut Director | Vidhu Vinod Chopra (12th Fail) |
What Made This Year’s Awards Special?
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Shah Rukh Khan’s First National Award: Despite decades of iconic roles, this is his maiden National Award — a moment fans waited for eagerly.
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Women-Led Stories Gaining Momentum: Films like Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway and Kathal gave female actors and storytellers the spotlight.
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Rise of Realistic Cinema: 12th Fail and 2018 proved that audiences and critics are rewarding truth-based, grounded films.
Public and Industry Reactions
As expected, social media erupted in celebration. Hashtags like #SRKNationalAward, #VikrantMassey, and #RaniMukerji trended on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.
Fans wrote:
“This is the era of performances. No more star worship without substance. SRK proved he’s more than just charm.”
“Vikrant Massey is the most underrated gem in Bollywood. Glad he’s getting his due!”
Critics and film experts praised the jury for a “balanced, deserving” selection that honored both mainstream and independent films.
Message from the Jury
The official jury noted that this year’s selections focused on:
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Performance depth
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Socially relevant themes
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Creative storytelling
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Technical excellence
They emphasized the importance of recognizing cinema that not only entertains but also enlightens.
Impact on Indian Cinema(National Film Awards 2025)
The 71st National Film Awards have once again underlined the power of meaningful cinema. While Shah Rukh Khan’s win bridges the gap between commercial and critical success, newcomers like Vikrant Massey highlight a new wave of raw, realistic storytelling.
The industry is shifting — content is king, and audiences are embracing films that reflect real India, real struggles, and real heroes.
Who was the first person to win the film award for best actor?
| Superlative | Actor | Record |
|---|---|---|
| Actor with most awards | Dilip Kumar, Shah Rukh Khan | 8 |
| Actor with most nominations | Amitabh Bachchan | 34 |
| Actor with most consecutive nominations | Aamir Khan (1989-97) | 9 |
| Actor with nominations in most decades | Amitabh Bachchan | 6 |
| Actor with most nominations in a single year | Amitabh Bachchan (1979, 1983) Shah Rukh Khan (2005) |
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| Actor with most nominations without ever winning | Salman Khan | 10 |
| Oldest winner | Amitabh Bachchan | 67 |
| Oldest nominee | 80 | |
| Youngest winner | Rishi Kapoor (1973) | 21 |
| Youngest nominee | Darsheel Safary (2008) | 11 |
Conclusion
The 71st National Film Awards 2025 will be remembered as a turning point where experience, talent, and truth found a perfect balance. From Shah Rukh Khan’s emotional triumph to Vikrant Massey’s humble breakthrough and Rani Mukerji’s maternal intensity, this year proved that cinema with soul always wins.
As the Indian film industry enters a more inclusive, content-first era, the National Awards are showing the way forward — one powerful story at a time.
