The 71st National Film Awards ceremony, held on September 23 in New Delhi, marked a historic day for Indian cinema. The grand event brought together some of the biggest names in the industry, including Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukerji, Mohanlal, Vikrant Massey, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Ektaa Kapoor, Guneet Monga, Prasoon Joshi, and Apoorva Mehta.
In a career-defining moment, Shah Rukh Khan received his first-ever National Film Award for Best Actor for his powerful performance in Atlee’s blockbuster Jawan. The award, a significant milestone in SRK’s nearly 33-year-long career, was shared with Vikrant Massey, who was recognised for his moving role in 12th Fail, directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra.
SRK arrived at the event in a sleek black coat and was seated next to longtime collaborator and friend Rani Mukerji, who took home the Best Actress award for Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway. Both awards were presented by President Droupadi Murmu. During the ceremony, Sanjay Jaju, Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, paid a heartfelt tribute to SRK, saying:
“The man whose smile transcends borders and whose conversations have entered our shared lexicon. He is not only a National Award laureate but the King of Hearts.”
Khan responded with a warm smile and a flying kiss, receiving applause from the audience.
On social media, Gauri Khan celebrated the win, posting a photo of SRK with the caption:
“What a journey it’s been. Congratulations on winning the National Award!!! So deserving… Now I’m designing a special mantle for this award.”
Professionally, SRK is currently working on King, an action thriller directed by Siddharth Anand, set for release in 2026. He’s also enjoying the success of son Aryan Khan’s Netflix debut, The Bads of Bollywood.