National Film Awards 2026 LIVE: Mammootty gets standing ovation as he wins fourth Best Actor award

Veteran actor Anant Nag received the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award at the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony. He thanked the many artists he has worked with and called Bharat his ‘karam bhoomi’.

As Yami Gautam went on stage to receive the Best Actress award for Article 370, husband and director Aditya Dhar was all smiles and cheered on. He won for producing the film, as it was recognised with the Best Feature Film award.

Mammootty who won his fourth National Award in the Best Actor category, received a standing ovation on stage. His performance in Bramayugam was called ‘career-defining’.

Singer Vaikom Vijayalakshmi won Best Singer National Award for the Malayalam film ARM. She received a standing ovation as she went on stage to receive her award.

Venky Atluri was chosen for the National Film Award in Best Dialogue category for the film Lucky Bhaskar. It starred Dulquer Salmaan in the lead role. He was present at the award ceremony to accept the honour.

Shashwat Sachdev won for the film’s original score. As he went on to receive his award, Aditya Dhar and Yami Gautam cheered on.

Dhanush received the second National Award of the evening for his directorial film Raayan. The project holds a special place in his career as it was his second film as a director and also marked his 50th outing as an actor. That made the National Award feel even more personal.

“A first is always unforgettable,” Dhanush reflected, adding that winning his inaugural National Award for direction is a blessing he will hold close for the rest of his life.

Dhanush received a Special Mention for his performance in Captain Miller. He has previously won two Best Actor awards.

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday said the National Film Awards should be taken to prominent tourist destinations across the country.

“Today, the National Film Awards ceremony will be held at Ekta Nagar, where the world’s tallest statue of Sardar Patel is located. Inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we have undertaken the initiative of taking the National Film Awards to major tourist spots across the country,” Vaishnaw told the media.

He added, “Earlier, the National Film Awards were held only inside a conference room or a hall. The National Film Awards are such an honour that all the major artists, actors, cinematographers, camera personnel, artists and technicians from the film industry are associated with them. If we hold it at a tourist destination, naturally, the tourism destination will also benefit and a new format of the National Film Awards will be presented to everyone. With this thought process, we are now taking the National Film Awards to tourist destinations…”

The awards distribution ceremony began, with President Droupadi Murmu giving away the honours in the non-feature film categories first. Feature film categories will follow next.

The award distribution ceremony will begin shortly. President Droupadi Murmu arrived on stage.

Kartik Aaryan visited the Statue of Unity at Kevadia and expressed his excitement about receiving his first National Award on Tuesday.

While addressing the gathering, Kartik Aaryan said, “I have received my first National Award for Chandu Champion. I am truly, incredibly happy—my entire family is overjoyed, and our whole team is thrilled. Reflecting on the journey we began with Chandu Champion and the way this film inspires so many people—especially regarding the Paralympians—I can only express my gratitude to the jury and the entire audience across India for choosing us.”

Writer-director Aditya Dhar was hesitant to talk about Dhurandhar at the ceremony, because this time he is here for Article 370- which won Best Feature Film. Aditya said that he hopes to talk about the blockbuster Ranveer Singh film next year at the National Awards, hoping that it can also be recognised.

Manoj Muntashir, who won the Best Lyrics award for Jaane Do from Maidaan, said that music composer AR Rahman heard the first two lines and predicted that he will definitely win the National Award. It marks his second win in the category.

The legendary Malayalam actor thanked the jury and said, “As usual it is an inspiration for every performer to get recognised by the nation. I am fortunate that this is my fourth. I am very happy that I could entertain my audience for a long time.”

“I can assure that I am going to very hard to do that too. I choose the script, then the role. I don’t have much preparations when I am on set. I am not doing any magic but luckily it happens. The character structure in this film was something else. I should thank my director, my make-up designer for this,” he added.

Film Producer Captain Rahul Bali arrived at Vadodara Airport to attend the 72nd National Film Awards Ceremony at the Statue of Unity in Ekta Nagar.

He said, “I will urge to the government and PM Modi that more events like this should continue to be held there and that Bollywood should be encouraged to participate. The Statue of Unity is truly special. I will also speak to my friends in Bollywood and encourage them to make films, short films, or other projects there so that the world can see what an incredible landmark we have created. It is not only important for us but for the whole of India…”

Yami Gautam won the National Film Award for Best Actor (Female) for her performance in Article 370. She took to her X account to pen a heartfelt note on this recognition.

In her note, she began, “Every journey has a moment that reminds you why you never gave up. Today is that moment for me. Receiving the National Award for Article 370 is an honour I will cherish for the rest of my life.”

She went on to add, “For fourteen years, I have simply tried to stay true to my craft, work with honesty and let my performances speak for themselves. This honour feels like the culmination of a journey filled with hope, perseverance, resilience and an unwavering love for cinema. It is a dream I have carried in my heart for years and today, I receive it with immense gratitude and humility. Article 370 was never just another film for me. It was a story I deeply believed in. The fact that it was our home production makes this recognition even more emotional and personal. Every challenge, every conversation and every day on set was driven by one shared purpose, to tell this story with honesty and conviction.”

The winners were announced by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in New Delhi in July. This year’s awards are for films certified by the Central Board of Film Certification in 2024. Kartik Aaryan, Mammootty and Yami Gautam led the awards, as did the movie Article 370. See full list of winners by clicking here.

Veteran actor Anant Nag will receive the honour at the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony in Kevadia, Gujarat.

he Dadasaheb Phalke Award is regarded as India’s highest honour in cinema and recognises an individual’s contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema. The selection followed a recommendation from the Dadasaheb Phalke Award Selection Committee.

The government said Nag’s cinematic journey had inspired generations and contributed to the country’s cultural landscape.

Noting his contribution to Kannada cinema and the range of characters he has portrayed over several decades, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on X, “Congratulations to the legendary Anant Nag Ji on being conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.”

“For several decades, his effortless performances, remarkable versatility and brilliance have left a very strong mark on Indian cinema, particularly Kannada cinema. In whichever role he has played, he brought rare depth and authenticity,” he said.

Actress and jury member Gopi Desai arrived at Vadodara Airport to attend the 72nd National Film Awards Ceremony at the Statue of Unity in Ekta Nagar.

She said, “Hearing for the first time that the ceremony was not being held in Delhi but somewhere else felt a little unusual. Then I found out it was being held in Kevadia, which is wonderful. Perhaps it can be held in different places every year—Kashmir, the South, Trivandrum, and other locations. It should not remain fixed in one place as it was in Delhi. That way, all states can benefit from it, and it will be nice…”

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw says, “The National Film Awards ceremony will be held in Ekta Nagar. Inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, an initiative has been taken to host the National Film Awards ceremony at all the major tourist spots across the country, whereas previously it used to happen only inside a conference room. The National Film Awards are such an award that connects all the big names in the film world—artists, cinematographers, camera professionals—everyone gets involved.”

He added, “If we hold it at a tourist destination, naturally, it will benefit the tourism site as well, and a fresh format for the National Film Awards will emerge before everyone. With this very objective in mind, we are now taking the National Film Awards to tourist destinations. In this sequence, the first National Film Awards is happening in Ekta Nagar. Now, I would like to request all the states: for the next Film Awards, please nominate your most important tourist spot where investment has been made. Nominate what you consider the most significant tourist site in your respective state, and also explain what improvements and work you will undertake there. And if your tourist site is selected, the next National Film Awards will be held at your tourist destination.”

Mammootty has been honoured with the National Film Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his performance in Bramayugam (Malayalam). It is his fourth win in the category.

“I am deeply honoured and delighted to receive the National Film Award in the Best Actor category. This recognition is incredibly special to me because this is my fourth award. It is a moment of great pride and encouragement. Thank you so much,” he said.

Randeep Hooda won the National Film Award for Best Debut Film of a Director at the 72nd National Film Awards for his biographical drama Swatantrya Veer Savarkar.

The actor arrived at Vadodara Airport to attend the 72nd National Film Awards Ceremony at the Statue of Unity in Ekta Nagar. He said, “This is my first National Awards… I am very grateful to be a part of these awards…”

The 72nd National Film Awards will be held outside Delhi for the first time this year. The awards will be presented on Tuesday, September 22, in Gujarat. The ceremony will take place at Ekta Nagar in Kevadia, against the backdrop of the Statue of Unity.

The awards ceremony will begin at 3 pm on September 22. Viewers can watch the ceremony online, as DD National will stream the event live on its YouTube channel from 3 pm onwards.

Kartik Aaryan visited the Statue of Unity at Kevadia and expressed his excitement about receiving his first National Award on Tuesday.

While addressing the gathering, Kartik Aaryan said, “I have received my first National Award for Chandu Champion. I am truly, incredibly happy—my entire family is overjoyed, and our whole team is thrilled. Reflecting on the journey we began with Chandu Champion and the way this film inspires so many people—especially regarding the Paralympians—I can only express my gratitude to the jury and the entire audience across India for choosing us.”

Kartik shares the Best Actor award with legendary actor Mammootty, who won the honour for his performance in the Malayalam horror-thriller film ‘Bramayugam’.