Introduction
In August 2025, Shah Rukh Khan won his first National Film Award for Best Actor for his role in the movie Jawan (2023), at the 71st National Film Awards. Many fans and people in the film world were happy and celebrated his win. But the news also started some arguments — especially when senior South Indian actress Urvashi questioned the jury’s choice. In reply, senior actor Mukesh Khanna stood up for Shah Rukh Khan and said he truly deserved the award.
Here, we look at and compare what they said, how each person explained their thoughts, and the bigger picture about how India gives out its national awards.
Background: Shah Rukh Khan’s Late National Award Win
Shah Rukh Khan had never won a National Award for acting before Jawan, even though he has acted in big Bollywood movies for over 30 years. Popular films like Swades, Chak De India, My Name Is Khan, and Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge were loved by many and praised by critics, but none of them brought him this top national honor until now.
That the award finally came in 2025 — and was shared with Vikrant Massey for 12th Fail — was seen by many fans and people in the film industry as recognition that should have happened much earlier.
Urvashi’s critique: fairness, transparency, and representation" based on available information:
Urvashi said her role should have been counted as a lead part, not a supporting one. She mentioned that in 2006, she played the lead in Achuvinte Amma but still got the Best Supporting Actress award. She also questioned how Shah Rukh Khan’s acting in Jawan qualified for Best Actor and why actor Vijayaraghavan was placed as supporting instead of lead. She asked for clear and fair rules about how actors are placed in these award categories.
Her main point was clear: National Awards should not be given out like "pension money" — meaning not just given automatically or out of habit. Instead, they should be based on true talent and hard work, with fair and clear decision-making that people can trust and understand.
Her complaint is a call for clear answers about how winners are chosen, and whether some regions or strong performances—especially from South Indian films—are being ignored or placed in the wrong category.
Mukesh Khanna’s Defense –
Mukesh Khanna, a senior actor known for famous roles like Bhishma in Mahabharat and Shaktimaan, strongly supported Shah Rukh Khan’s National Award win.
He said that SRK has worked hard for over 30 years, and when someone gives so much to the film world for such a long time, it makes sense to finally give them a top award. He said the decision was not random or unfair—it was a well-deserved honor for a long and successful career.
He compared it to A.R. Rahman winning an Oscar for "Jai Ho" in Slumdog Millionaire, even though he had done great work before that. He said that sometimes big awards come later in a person’s career, and that’s okay—it still shows respect for their past hard work and talent.
Khanna also disagreed with people who said the award should have gone to a South Indian actor. He said that kind of thinking is political and unfair — and that choosing an actor just based on region is not the right way to judge talent.
He told people to “stop saying silly things” that make awards seem based on politics. He said awards should be given for good work, not because of political reasons.
Comparing how things are said, what is said, and the way the message is shaped
Urvashi
Tone: Serious and questioning.
Focus: She talks about how the awards are given — how roles are decided as “lead” or “supporting,” what the judges look at, and whether the process is fair and open.
Framing: She shares her own past experience (playing the main role but getting a supporting award), asks for clear rules, and shows doubt about possible unfair treatment or bias.
Mukesh Khanna
Tone: Supportive and confident.
Focus: He talks about Shah Rukh Khan’s long career, talent, and hard work. He believes the award is a way to honor all that. He also compares it to big international awards like the Oscars.
Framing: He says the National Award is a fair way to recognize years of great work. He rejects any talk that the award was given for political reasons.
While Urvashi spoke about fairness in how roles and awards are decided, Khanna focused on appreciating Shah Rukh Khan's long career and said that getting an award later in life doesn’t make it any less important or less deserved.
Talking About Awards: Are They Trustworthy, and What Do People Think?
This disagreement is part of a bigger talk about whether people really trust the National Film Awards:
Many people (especially online, like on Reddit) have said for a long time that these awards can be unfair or influenced by politics. For example, some were upset when Saif Ali Khan won Best Actor for Hum Tum instead of Shah Rukh Khan, who acted in big movies like Swades around the same time. People feel that sometimes the best performances do not always win, which makes them question if the awards are truly fair.
Some people say that National Film Awards are not always given for true talent or hard work. Instead, they believe winners are sometimes chosen because of influence, connections, or favoritism. They also point out that these awards are run by the government, so political influence might play a part too.
Many fans believe that Shah Rukh Khan should have won a National Award much earlier, because of his famous roles and strong emotional acting. Even though the award came late in 2025, they still see it as a meaningful and important moment.
In this way, Urvashi’s comments match the doubts many people have about the fairness of the awards system, while Khanna’s view shows trust that real talent will get the right respect—even if it takes time.
Can delayed awards still be meaningful?
Yes—people who agree with Khanna believe that getting an award late still matters. They say it doesn’t just honor the film (Jawan), but also respects the actor’s full career. As Khanna said, if given fairly, a late award can still show appreciation for many years of hard work, even if the winning role came only recently
Does putting roles in the wrong category matter?
Yes, it matters a lot. Urvashi gave her own example and also talked about actor Vijayaraghavan to show why it's important to be clear about who is in a lead role and who is in a supporting role. If the categories are wrong, it can make someone’s work seem less important or give the wrong person the award.
Should region or location matter in awards?
Urvashi was worried that Malayalam films might not be getting enough attention. Khanna disagreed and said this kind of thinking was political. But there’s still an important point here: National Film Awards should treat all Indian films fairly—no matter which part of the country or film industry they come from.
Conclusion
The talk between Urvashi and Mukesh Khanna about Shah Rukh Khan’s 2025 National Award shows two different opinions:
Urvashi raises concerns about fairness, equal treatment, and how clearly and honestly the award process is done.
Khanna supports SRK’s win, saying he deserved the award not just for Jawan, but also because he has done great work for many years. He uses past examples and his own experience to explain why it’s a fair and meaningful award.
Whether you agree more with Khanna, who values past work and long careers, or with Urvashi, who wants fair and clear rules, this discussion is a good one. It shows that we need more openness, better guidelines, and fairer recognition for all kinds of films across India.
Final Summary:
Shah Rukh’s National Award:
Many people feel it's a well-deserved recognition that came late but means a lot, showing respect for his long acting career.
Urvashi’s view:
She asks for fairness in how awards are given, with clear categories and equal attention to all regions of India.
Mukesh Khanna’s view:
He believes awards should be based on talent and hard work, even if they come late, and says Shah Rukh has earned it through years of great acting.
Public opinion:
Most people support Shah Rukh Khan, but some don’t fully trust the awards because there have been problems in the past.
Future hopes:
Ongoing discussions might help improve the award system—by making it more open, holding the judges more responsible, and making sure it's fair to all parts of the country and all types of acting.
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