Shahrukh Khan and the Big Win
71 th national films awards 2025 After a 30 years wait ,SRK receives hies first national awards 
71st National Film Awards ceremony, President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday honoured artistes from the Indian film industry, including powerhouses such as Mohanlal, Shah Rukh Khan, and Rani Mukerji for their contribution to cinema for the year 2023.
Malayalam star Mohanlal received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest honour in the field of Indian cinema, bestowed by the Government of India and presented annually at the National Film Awards.
In perhaps what was the most Bollywood-dominated National Film Awards, superstars Shah Rukh Khan (Jawan) and Rani Mukerji (Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway) received honours in the best actor and best actress categories respectively.
This is the first National Film Award in the categories for both the actors. For his work in the film 12th Fail, Actor Vikrant Massey shared the best actor award with Shah Rukh Khan. Sudipto Sen won the best director award in the feature film category for his film The Kerala Story, Choreographer Vaibhavi Merchant won the best choreography award for the song Dhindhora Baje Re from the movie Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani.
Animal music composer Harshavardhan Rameshwar received the National Film Award for best music direction. At the 71st National Film Awards, the award for the best script was conferred upon Chidananda Naik for the Kannada film Sunflowers Were The First Ones To Know…, honouring outstanding writing in Indian cinema.
M R Rajakrishnan got the National Film Award special mention for re-recording for the Sandeep Reddy Vanga film which starred Ranbir Kapoor in the lead role. The award for the best Malayalam film under the best feature films category was conferred to Ullozhikku (Undercurrent). Directed by Christo Tomy and produced by Unilazer Ventures Private Limited along with Macguffin Pictures, the film stars Parvathy Thiruvothu and Urvashi in lead roles.
Fans have been waiting for this. Some would even say he should have won years earlier for movies like Chak De! India or Swades. But maybe this is what makes it sweeter. A superstar who has already achieved everything now adds this long-awaited recognition to his career.
Isn’t it funny how an actor who’s loved all over the world can still crave a national honor? That’s the weight of the National Film Awards. They mean a lot not just to the actors but also to the audience who searches for that validation somewhere.
Why Jawan Made the Difference
The biggest question people are asking right now—why Jawan? Why this film and not the countless hits Shahrukh Khan has given in the last three decades?
Jawan is SRKs back to back 1000 cr film, it was a mass movement.
The film blended action, emotion, and a strong social message without feeling forced.
It showed a side of SRK we hadn’t seen in ages—fierce, layered, yet incredibly human.
Think about it. Every superstar has those one or two iconic films that change their whole career direction. For Amitabh Bachchan it was Zanjeer. For Aamir Khan, maybe Lagaan. For SRK, Jawan now sits firmly in that league.
And yes, a National Film Awards win cements it.
What Makes the National Film Awards So Special
You may wonder, why is everyone talking about this win like it’s the crown jewel? Shahrukh Khan already has dozens of Filmfare awards and international honors.
The National Film Awards
They’re not decided by fans or popularity contests.
A government-backed body handles them, making them the most respected awards in Indian cinema.
They don’t care about box office numbers, only quality and performance.
So when a superstar like SRK takes home a prize for Jawan, it’s not just another trophy in his cabinet. It’s a stamp of approval from the most credible jury in the country.
The Audience Reaction
I scrolled through social media the night the news broke. You can literally feel the excitement.
Fans calling it “justice served.”
People sharing old clips of SRK’s performances and tagging them with “finally.”
A few critics admitting they underestimated Jawan.
And somewhere in those tweets and posts, you can see this collective sigh of relief. Almost as if the audience wanted validation as much as SRK did.
image source – TOI
Shahrukh Khan’s Journey Matters Here
It’s not just about one award. The journey matters.
SRK started off as that TV actor who dreamed big. He then became the “romance king” of Bollywood. Later, he experimented—sometimes it worked (Chak De! India), sometimes it didn’t (Fan, Zero). People doubted him more than once.
Then came 2023. Pathaan and Jawan back-to-back created this insane comeback story. Pathaan smashed records, and Jawan went a step further—it gave him his National Film Awards moment.
If you look closely, this isn’t just an award. It’s a comeback story signed off on the biggest stage possible.
Impact on Bollywood
SRK winning the National Film Awards doesn’t stay limited to him. These wins ripple across the industry.
It raises the bar for commercial cinema.
It shows you can make a massy blockbuster and still get recognized for quality.
It inspires younger actors that awards aren’t only for “art-house” films.
It also quietly tells Bollywood audiences that sometimes patience pays off. Good things happen when someone keeps trying, keeps taking risks, and refuses to fade away.
Where Does SRK Go From Here?
That’s the fun part. At 59, most actors would consider slowing down. But not SRK. If anything, this win seems to have re-energized him.
You can almost predict a few things:
More filmmakers will come forward with big, meaningful scripts.
International recognition might grow even stronger after this.
And fans? They’ll expect bigger, bolder projects now.
Could his next be another National Award-worthy film? Or maybe something completely different, like a web series that surprises everyone? Hard to say, but one thing’s sure—you’re going to be hearing his name a lot more when awards season rolls around again.
Why This Win Feels Personal for Fans
Here’s the thing. When you grow up in India, SRK isn’t just an actor. He’s woven into your memories.
That first time you tried to stretch your arms like him in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge.
That goosebump moment when he gave the hockey speech in Chak De! India.
That chill when you saw him transform in Jawan.
So yes, when National Film Awards recognized him, fans felt recognized too. As if all those years of love and loyalty had finally paid off.
Building Legacy With the National Film Awards
Will this single win define SRK’s career? Probably not. His legacy was already secure long ago.
But it does add a new layer. A kind of closure for the debate that lingered quietly—“why hasn’t he won it yet?” Now that doubt is gone.
It also strengthens his image for generations to come. Decades from now, when people look back at Hindi cinema and its milestones, Shahrukh Khan winning the National Film Awards for Jawan will definitely be one of them.
For more dealtils :-At the 71st National Film Awards ceremony held in Delhi, President Droupadi Murmu honored Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukerji with their first National Awards, while Mohanlal received the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award, celebrating outstanding contributions to Indian cinema (source: Hindustan Times).
Thoughts
If you’re a fan, this win feels like a festival. If you’re not, even then, you can’t ignore what it means to Indian cinema.
Shahrukh Khan didn’t just shine with Jawan. He proved that greatness sometimes takes its time but never misses its moment.
So, what do you think? Did SRK deserve his National Film Awards earlier? Or was Jawan the perfect film for it?
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