The winners of the 71st National Film Awards — celebrating excellence in Indian cinema from the year 2023 — were officially revealed on August 1 by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Sharing the spotlight for Best Actor are Shah Rukh Khan and Vikrant Massey, honoured for their standout roles in Jawan and 12th Fail, respectively. Rani Mukerji was named Best Actress for her deeply moving performance in Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway.

Directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, 12th Fail is a poignant biographical film tracing the inspiring journey of Manoj Kumar Sharma, a man who overcame immense poverty to join the Indian Police Service. Vikrant Massey’s portrayal of Sharma struck a chord with critics and audiences alike, earning him one of the top honours this year. Medha Shankar also played a pivotal role in the film.

Meanwhile, Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan, helmed by director Atlee and released in September 2023, broke box office records. In a dual role, Khan plays both Azad — a prison officer leading a secret group of vigilantes — and Vikram Rathore, his older version. The film blends high-octane action with a social message, and features Nayanthara as a police officer and Vijay Sethupathi as the menacing antagonist, Kaali.

Rani Mukerji’s award-winning performance in Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway is inspired by the true story of Sagarika Chakraborty, an Indian mother whose children were taken by Norwegian authorities over cultural misunderstandings. Rani’s role as Debika, a determined Bengali woman challenging a foreign legal system to reunite with her children, earned widespread praise for its emotional intensity. The role had also earlier won her the Filmfare Critics Award.

The list of winners was formally handed over to Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday, with Minister of State Dr. L Murugan and I&B Secretary Sanjay Jaju also present. The entire announcement event is being live-streamed via the Ministry’s official platforms for public access.