Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukerjee Take Top Honors at 71st National Film Awards

Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukerji, and Vikrant Massey Dazzle at the 71st National Film Awards

The 71st National Film Awards, released officially on August 1, 2025, were a historic award for Bollywood, where Shah Rukh Khan's first award for Best Actor award during his 33- years of film career was awarded for his role in Jawan. Vikrant Massey shared the award with Shah Rukh Khan for Best Actor for his leading role in 12th Fail, and Rani Mukerji, who won Best Actress for her sizzling, brilliant role in Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway. 

The ceremony took place at the National Media Centre in Delhi, and the awards acknowledged film releases which received certification in 2023, which in many respects was a year that ambitiously changed box office success and critically acclaimed films in very unprecedented and different ways.

The Big Wins: SRK's Historic Win and Rani's Emotional Victory 

Shah Rukh Khan's Long-Awaited Recognition

Shah Rukh Khan's Jawan was an electrifying action thriller that demonstrated Khan's star power, as well as showing Khan's investment in the movie. Though he has been in over 100 films, this was SRK's first National Award - that's something for fans and colleagues to cheer for. 

In a report by the entertainment website Pinkvilla, these historic wins were labeled as a landmark for Khan, as the full global box office for his films in 2023 (Pathaan, Jawan, and Dunki) alone is closing in on Rs. 2,500 crore.

Vikrant Massey's Triumph's 12th Fail  

In 12th Fail, Massey played IPS officer Manoj Kumar Sharma, a role that resonated with critics due to its realism and raw emotional truth. Massey was acclaimed, like SRK in Jawan, and 12th Fail was picked as Best Feature Film as well. 

Rani Mukerji's Courtroom Drama Win

Mukerji delivered a riveting performance as a mother who battled Norway's child welfare system in Mrs. Chatterjee vs. Norway, which was dubbed career-defining. This only added to the weight of her win, which was inspired by real events.  

Full List of Winners: Local-language cinema 

1. Best Feature Film: 12th Fail (Hindi)  

2. Best Director: The Kerala Story (Sudipto Sen)   

3. Best Popular Film: Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani 

4. Best Supporting Actress: Urvashi (Ullozhukku), Janki Bodiwala (Vash)   

5. Best Malayalam Film: Ullozhukku 

For the technical awards, Animal won Best Sound Design, and Hanu-Man won Best VFX.

List of Feature Films

Special Recognition: MR Rajakrishnan (Animal - Re-Recording)

Best Tai Phake Film: Pai Tang…Step of Hope

Best Garo Film: Rimdottianga

Best Telugu Film: Bhagavanth Kesari

Best Tamil Film: Parking

Best Punjabi Film: Godday Godday Chaa

Best Action Direction: Nandu-Prudhvi (HanuMan)

Best Choreography: Vaibhavi Merchant (Dindhora Baje Re - Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani)

Best Lyrics: Kasarla Shyam (Ooru Palleturu - Balagam)

Best Music Direction: GV Prakash Kumar (Vaathi), Harshav

Best Production Design: Mohandas (2018)

Best Editing: Midhun Murali for Pookkaalam

Best Sound Design: Sachin Sudhakaran and Hariharan for Animal

Best Screenplay: Sai Rajesh for Baby, Ramkumar Balakrishnan for Parking

Best Dialogue: Deepak Kingrani for Sirf Ek Ban

Best Playback Singer: Shilpa Rao for Chaliya from Jawan and Rohit for "Premisthunna" from Baby.

Best Child Artist: Sukriti Bandireddi in Gandhi Thatha Chettu, Kabir Khandare in Gypsy, along with Treesha Toshar, Shrinivas Pokale, and Bhargav for their roles in "Naal 2.

Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Urvas.

Why This Year's Awards Matter

The NFA in 2025 exhibited a shift towards content-driven cinema. Jawan and Rocky Aur Rani epitomized this tendency. Similarly, smaller fare like 12th Fail and Ullozhukku suggested once more that storytelling came first. This year, the jury, as noted in India Today, acknowledged the performances that made the members of the audience feel something, and not the magical effects. 

This year's awards embraced both legacy and new blood, implying a future with inclusive, relevant cinema. For SRK and Mukerji, recognition for great talent; for Massey, recognition for smaller films, taking his career to the next level.