National Film Awards 2025 Highlights: SRK Wins First National Award, Mohanlal Gets Dadasaheb Phalke Honour

National Film Awards 2025: The wait is finally over. The winners of the 71st National Film Awards are being felicitated today, September 23, at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi.

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National Film Awards 2025: The wait is finally over. The winners of the 71st National Film Awards are being felicitated today, September 23, at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi. President Droupadi Murmu is presenting the honours at the ceremony, which begins at 4 p.m.This year’s edition is particularly special as it marks Shah Rukh Khan’s very first National Award in a career spanning more than three decades. The superstar shares the Best Actor award with Vikrant Massey, recognised for their performances in Jawan and 12th Fail respectively.Actress Rani Mukerji takes home the Best Actress honour for her compelling act in Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway. Meanwhile, Malayalam icon Mohanlal receives the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the country’s highest recognition in cinema, celebrating his prolific career of over forty years. In 2024, the same honour was conferred on veteran star Mithun Chakraborty.Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s acclaimed film 12th Fail clinched the title of Best Feature Film, while Sudipto Sen was named Best Director for The Kerala Story. On the other hand, Karan Johar’s Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani won the award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, and Sam Bahadur was recognised for Best Film Promoting National, Social Values.Complete List of Winners – 71st National Film AwardsBest Hindi Film – Kathal – A Jackfruit MysteryBest Feature Film – 12th FailBest Actor – Shah Rukh Khan (Jawan) and Vikrant Massey (12th Fail)Best Actress – Rani Mukerji (Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway)Dadasaheb Phalke Award – MohanlalBest Direction – The Kerala Story (Sudipto Sen)Best Popular Film – Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem KahaniBest Telugu Film – Bhagwanth KesariBest Gujarati Film – VaashBest Tamil Film – ParkingBest Kannada Film – The Ray of HopeBest Female Playback Singer – Shilpa Rao (Chhaliya, Jawan)Best Male Playback Singer – Premisthunna (Baby, Telugu)Best Cinematography – The Kerala StoryBest Choreography – Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani (Dhindora Baaje Re)Best Makeup and Costume Designer – Sam BahadurSpecial Mention – Animal (Re-recording Mixer – M R Radhakrishnan)Best Sound Design – Animal (Hindi)Best Film Critic – Utpal Dutta (Assam)Best Action Direction – Hanu-Man (Telugu)Best Lyrics – Balgam (The Group) (Telugu)Non-Feature Film Categories:Best Film Critic – Utpal DuttaBest Documentary – God, Vulture and HumanBest Script – Sunflower Ver The First One To Know (Kannada)Best Film – Nekal: Chronicle of the Paddy Man (Malayalam), The Sea and Seven Villages (Oriya)Best Music Direction (The First Film) – HindiBest Editing (Movie Focus) – English

23/09/2025 17:38:14

National Film Awards 2025 LIVE: Mohanlal honoured with Dadasaheb Phalke Award

Legendary actor Mohanlal has been awarded the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2023, recognising his outstanding contribution to Indian cinema.

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23/09/2025 17:34:22

National Film Awards 2025 Live: Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s 12th Fail wins Best Film

The Vidhu Vinod Chopra-directed 12th Fail, starring Vikrant Massey, has been awarded Best Film at the 71st National Film Awards.

23/09/2025 17:33:29

National Film Awards 2025 LIVE: Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani wins Best Popular Film

The Ranveer Singh–Alia Bhatt starrer Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani has won the National Award for Best Popular Film. Director Karan Johar and producer Apoorva Mehta received the honour on stage.

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23/09/2025 17:32:13

National Film Awards 2025 LIVE: Sam Bahadur wins third National Award

Vicky Kaushal’s Sam Bahadur has bagged its third National Film Award of the night, this time taking home Best Feature Film Promoting National, Social and Environmental Values.

23/09/2025 17:23:45

National Film Awards 2025 LIVE: Shah Rukh Khan and Vikrant Massey get Best Actor award

Actors Shah Rukh Khan and Vikrant Massey have jointly won the Best Actor in a Leading Role award. Shah Rukh was recognised for Jawan, while Vikrant earned the accolade for 12th Fail.

23/09/2025 17:22:54

National Film Awards 2025 Live: Rani Mukerji gets Best Actress award

Actor Rani Mukerji has been awarded Best Actress for her powerful performance in Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway at the 71st National Film Awards.

23/09/2025 17:17:08

National Film Awards 2025 LIVE: Shilpa Rao wins Best Female Playback Singer

Singer Shilpa Rao has been honoured with the Best Female Playback Singer award for her soulful rendition in the film Jawan.

23/09/2025 17:14:54

National Film Awards 2025 LIVE: Sirf Ek Banda Kaafi Hai wins Best Dialogue writing

The Manoj Bajpayee-starrer Sirf Ek Banda Kaafi Hai has been awarded Best Dialogue Writing at the 71st National Film Awards.

23/09/2025 17:13:19

National Film Awards 2025 LIVE: Sam Bahadur gets three awards

Vicky Kaushal’s Sam Bahadur shines at the 71st National Film Awards, winning Best Make-Up, Best Costume Design, and Best Feature Film Promoting National, Social and Environmental Values.

23/09/2025 17:00:19

National Film Awards 2025 LIVE: Vaibhavi Merchant wins Best Choreography

Choreographer Vaibhavi Merchant has been honoured with the Best Choreography award for the song Dhindhora Baje Re from Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani.

23/09/2025 16:56:24

National Film Awards 2025 LIVE: Kathal – A Jackfruit Mystery gets Best Hindi Film

Kathal – A Jackfruit Mystery has been awarded Best Hindi Film at the 71st National Film Awards, adding another accolade to its growing list of honours.

23/09/2025 16:48:13

National Film Awards 2025 LIVE: Regional films honoured

Awards for Best Films in Regional Languages were presented today. Bhagwanth Kesari won Best Telugu Film, while Parking received Best Tamil Film and Best Screenplay Writer. Godday Godday Chaa claimed Best Punjabi Film, and Pushkara took home Best Odia Film.

23/09/2025 16:43:18

National Film Awards 2025 Live: Animal receives Special Mention

The Ranbir Kapoor starrer Animal has been honoured with a Special Mention for Re-Recording Mixer at the 71st National Film Awards.

23/09/2025 16:39:31

National Film Awards 2025 LIVE: The Flowering Man gets Golden Lotus

The Flowering Man has been awarded Best Non-Feature Film and receives the prestigious Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) at the 71st National Film Awards.

23/09/2025 16:32:53

National Film Awards 2025 Live: Non-Feature Films take the spotlight

Awards for Non-Feature Films were given, with winners including The First Film, Giddh The Scavenger, and The Silent Epidemic, among others.

23/09/2025 16:25:37

National Film Awards 2025 Live: Rajat Kamals presented to select winners

The Rajat Kamal (Silver Lotus) awards were handed out to winners in various categories, including Little Wings, Sunflowers Were the First One To Know, The Sacred Jack, and Moving Focus, among others.

23/09/2025 16:24:12

National Film Awards LIVE: Ashwini Vaishnaw congratulates winners

Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw extended his felicitations to Mohanlal, Shah Rukh Khan, Vikrant Massey, and Rani Mukerji at the awards ceremony. He said, “For more than 4 decades Mohanlal has been many men on the screen, a soldier, a king, and a poet, and yet in the hearts of millions he has always been Lalettan. History is also being made today; Shah Rukh Khan’s smile has crossed all borders. He, whose dialogues have become our vocabulary, is winning his first National Award today. Vikrant Massey is also a first-time winner, and his resilience mirrors that of millions of Indians. Rani Mukerji brought alive the indomitable spirit of a mother.”

23/09/2025 16:23:08

National Film Awards 2025 Live: Shah Rukh Khan honoured as ‘King of Arts’

At the 71st National Film Awards, Shah Rukh Khan was introduced as the ‘King of Arts’. Sanjay Jaju, Secretary of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, praised him, saying, “His journey from Delhi theatre to global stardom is a story in itself.”

23/09/2025 16:09:30

National Film Awards 2025 Live: President Droupadi Murmu arrives to present awards

President of India, Droupadi Murmu, has made her entrance at the 71st National Film Awards. She is set to take the stage shortly to present the awards to the winners.

23/09/2025 15:58:55

National Film Awards 2025 LIVE: Shah Rukh Khan Greets Rani Mukerji

Bollywood superstars Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukerji shared a warm moment at the 71st National Film Awards. The two were seen greeting each other respectfully with folded hands.

23/09/2025 15:52:39

National Film Awards 2025 LIVE: Ekta Kapoor Makes Red Carpet Appearance For Kathal

Filmmaker Ekta Kapoor arrived at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, to attend the National Film Awards. She is being recognised for Kathal: A Jackfruit Mystery, a project she co-produced with Guneet Monga and Netflix.

23/09/2025 15:49:38

National Film Awards 2025 Live: Vidhu Vinod Chopra Walks Red Carpet with Wife Anupama

Director Vidhu Vinod Chopra made a grand entrance at the 71st National Film Awards alongside his wife Anupama Chopra to accept the Best Feature Film award for 12th Fail. Reflecting on his journey, Vidhu said, “I remember coming here for the first time, and I received Rs 4000 for Murder at Monkey Hill in 1976. My current film is my personal story, and from Rs 4000 to here is actually the story of 12th Fail.”

Anupama Chopra added with a smile, “I have very little to do with anything he does. I am just there for the support; creatively, he is his own artist, and he doesn’t listen to anyone.”

The film’s lead, Vikrant Massey, is also being honoured tonight with the Best Actor award for his performance in 12th Fail.

23/09/2025 15:45:39

National Film Awards 2025 Live: Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukerji, Mohanlal Arrive As Ceremony Begins

Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukerji and Mohanlal arrived at Vigyan Bhawan as the ceremony began.

23/09/2025 15:27:53

National Film Awards 2025 Live: Here’s what the winners take home

Every recipient at the National Film Awards is honoured with a medallion, a certificate of merit, and a cash prize. The top honours — including the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, six Feature Film awards, and three Non-Feature Film and Best Writing on Cinema awards — are presented with the Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus). All other categories are recognised with the Rajat Kamal (Silver Lotus).

23/09/2025 15:24:29

National Film Awards 2025 LIVE: Karan Johar expresses gratitude as Rocky Aur Rani wins Best Popular Film

Filmmaker Karan Johar lit up the red carpet as he arrived at Vigyan Bhavan for the ceremony. Speaking to the media, he said, “National Awards are the most prestigious award you can get in this country. I feel extremely gratitous and I can’t believe that I am receiving an award in the same category in which I won my first National Award for Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.”

This marks Johar’s third National Award. His 2023 release Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani has won in the category of Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. He previously bagged the same award for Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and later the Special Jury Award (Feature Film) for Shershaah.

23/09/2025 15:21:52

National Film Awards 2025 Live Updates: Ronnie Screwvala opens red carpet, congratulates Mohanlal

Producer Ronnie Screwvala was among the first to arrive on the red carpet at Vigyan Bhavan. He warmly congratulated veteran star Mohanlal, who is being honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award this year.

Screwvala’s production banner RSVP is also celebrating big wins tonight. Sam Bahadur has bagged awards for Best Feature Film Promoting National, Social and Environmental Values, Best Makeup, and Best Costume Design. Meanwhile, Ullozhukka has been named Best Malayalam Film.

23/09/2025 15:21:01

National Film Awards 2025: When And Where To Watch The Ceremony

71st National Film Awards: The Indian film fraternity is gearing up for one of its biggest honours as the 71st National Film Awards are set to be conferred today. Read complete story here