Shah Rukh Khan’s stirring performance in Jawan earned him his first National Film Award after more than thirty years in the business. In the superstar’s remarkable journey, this acknowledgement is a long-awaited and intensely emotional event.
Shah Rukh Khan clinched the Best Actor award for his stellar role in Jawan, as revealed during the 71st National Film Awards announcement today. Shah Rukh had previously been routinely passed over for the National Awards despite giving some of the best performances in Indian film. Many people think that this acknowledgement was long overdue.
Why SRK’s National Award Reception Was So Prolonged
Widely known as the “King of Bollywood,” Shah Rukh Khan stepped into the world of cinema with his debut in Deewana back in 1992. Over the years, he delivered both critically acclaimed and box office hits like Dilwale Dulhania. Le Jayenge, Swades, and Chak De! India. India, and My Name is Khan, have won him hearts throughout the years. Yet, despite his illustrious career spanning decades, the coveted National Award had always remained out of reach—until now.
SRK portrayed NASA engineer Mohan Bhargava in the 2004 film Swades, who was re-establishing his ties to his Indian heritage. His calm and introspective portrayal marked a stark departure from his usual romantic hero image. Yet, despite the widespread acclaim, the Best Actor award that year went to Saif Ali Khan for the rom-com Hum Tum.
Next followed Shah Rukh’s portrayal of Kabir Khan, a disgraced hockey coach looking for atonement, in Chak De! India in 2007. Shah Rukh was overlooked once more even though the movie took up the National Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. Hrithik Roshan won the Best Actor prize for Dhoom 2 that year.
In the 2010 film My Name is Khan, Shah Rukh played Rizwan Khan, a guy with Asperger’s Syndrome navigating a post-9/11 environment. His portrayal was revolutionary. Although he garnered global praise and a slew of international accolades, the National Award for Best Actor that year went to Amitabh Bachchan for his compelling portrayal of a child with progeria in Paa.
An Honour Long Overdue
Even though it took years, Shah Rukh Khan’s National Award confirms what critics and fans have long thought: he is not only a well-liked superstar but also one of the best actors Indian cinema has ever produced.
Additional Awards and International Acknowledgement
Shah Rukh Khan has long received international recognition for his contributions to film, even outside of the National Film Award. Alongside India’s Padma Shri, Shah Rukh Khan has also been bestowed with two of France’s most prestigious civilian awards—the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and the Legion of Honour—by the Indian government.