After 33 years, the Indian government has finally awarded Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan his first National Film Award.
Recognized as the “King of Bollywood,” Shah Rukh Khan has received his first-ever National Film Award from the Indian government for his contribution to the film industry over the past 33 years.
The National Film Awards, organized annually by the Indian government since 1954, celebrate excellence across various sectors of the film industry — including actors, films, and technical achievements. Despite a globally acclaimed career, this is the first time Shah Rukh Khan has been honored under this prestigious government-run awards system.
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According to Indian news outlet NDTV, Shah Rukh Khan was awarded in the Best Actor category. He shares this honor with rising actor Vikrant Massey, who was also named Best Actor.
Actress Rani Mukerji won the Best Actress award, while the Best Feature Film award went to ‘Baarahvin Fail’. Films in regional languages such as Telugu and Tamil were also recognized in various categories.
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At the 71st National Film Awards Festival 2025, a total of 21 awards were distributed across 19 categories. Uniquely, the Best Actor category saw two winners, one of whom was Shah Rukh Khan.
Although Shah Rukh Khan began his acting career in 1988 through Indian state TV (Doordarshan) dramas, his first film ‘Deewana’ was released in 1992. With that debut, he won over audiences and went on to star in seven films in his very first year, quickly earning the title “King of Bollywood.”
