72nd National Film Awards 2026 Winners Announced: Full Winners List, Best Actor, Best Actress

Published: 18 Jul 2026, 8:48 pm IST

The 72nd National Film Awards have officially been announced, celebrating the finest achievements in Indian cinema across feature films, regional cinema, non-feature films, and cinema writing. Considered India’s most prestigious film honours, the awards recognise films certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) during the 2024 calendar year, with the winners announced in New Delhi by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

This year’s ceremony saw standout performances from across the country. Kartik Aaryan and Mammootty shared the Best Actor award, while Yami Gautam won Best Actress for her performance in Article 370. The awards also highlighted the growing influence of regional cinema, showcasing outstanding work from filmmakers across multiple Indian languages.

Whether you’re looking for the complete winners list, the major award recipients, or the biggest surprises of the evening, here’s everything you need to know.

What Are the National Film Awards?

Instituted in 1954, the National Film Awards are presented annually by the Government of India to honour excellence in filmmaking across the country. Unlike many commercial award ceremonies, the National Film Awards are judged by an independent jury appointed by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

The awards recognize achievements in:

Feature Films
Non-Feature Films
Writing on Cinema
Technical Excellence
Regional Cinema
Acting, Direction, Music, Editing and Screenplay

The 72nd edition honoured films released and certified during 2024, reflecting the diversity and creativity of Indian cinema.

Best Actor: Kartik Aaryan and Mammootty Share Top Honour

One of the biggest highlights of the ceremony was the joint Best Actor award.

Kartik Aaryan

Kartik Aaryan was honoured for his performance in Chandu Champion, where he portrayed the inspiring journey of Paralympic gold medallist Murlikant Petkar. His physically demanding and emotionally layered performance earned widespread critical acclaim.

Mammootty

Veteran Malayalam superstar Mammootty shared the award for his acclaimed performance in Brahmayugam, further cementing his legacy as one of India’s finest actors.

The joint recognition reflects the jury’s appreciation of two very different yet equally impactful performances.

Best Actress: Yami Gautam Wins for Article 370

Actor Yami Gautam won the Best Actress award for her performance in the political thriller Article 370.

Her portrayal received praise for its intensity, emotional depth, and convincing screen presence. The jury recognized her performance as one of the standout female roles among films released in 2024.

72nd National Film Awards 2026: Major Winners

Among the major honours announced:

Best Actor: Kartik Aaryan (Chandu Champion) and Mammootty (Brahmayugam)
Best Actress: Yami Gautam (Article 370)

In addition to the acting honours, awards were announced across feature films, regional cinema, documentaries, technical categories, and writing on cinema, highlighting the breadth of storytelling across India’s film industries.

Regional Cinema Continues to Shine

A defining feature of the National Film Awards has always been its recognition of regional cinema.

This year’s winners once again reflected the strength of filmmaking in Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Marathi, Bengali, Assamese and other Indian languages.

Several regional productions earned recognition for:

Outstanding storytelling
Cinematography
Direction
Screenplay
Music
Social impact

Industry observers noted that regional cinema continues to raise creative standards while reaching wider national and international audiences.

Why the National Film Awards Matter

Unlike audience-voted or commercially driven award shows, the National Film Awards focus on artistic merit, technical excellence, and storytelling.

Winning a National Award often becomes:

A career-defining achievement.
Recognition from the Government of India.
A benchmark for excellence in filmmaking.
A boost for regional cinema and independent filmmakers.

Because the awards are judged by an expert jury, they are widely regarded as one of the highest honours in Indian cinema.

2024 Was a Strong Year for Indian Cinema

The awards reflected a year in which Indian cinema delivered a wide variety of successful films.

Audiences witnessed:

Powerful biographical dramas
Political thrillers
Social issue-based films
Experimental storytelling
Commercial entertainers with strong performances

The winners demonstrated that both mainstream and regional cinema can coexist while producing high-quality storytelling.

Highlights from the 72nd National Film Awards

Some of the biggest talking points included:

Kartik Aaryan winning his first National Award.
Mammootty adding another National Award to his illustrious career.
Yami Gautam securing Best Actress.
Strong representation of Malayalam and Telugu cinema.
Recognition of diverse stories across multiple Indian languages.

Growing Recognition for Regional Films

One noticeable trend over recent editions has been the increasing dominance of regional films.

Filmmakers from southern India, especially Malayalam and Telugu cinema, have consistently delivered critically acclaimed films that compete successfully at both national and international levels.

This year’s awards further reinforce that storytelling excellence is no longer limited by language.

Complete Winners List

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting also announced winners across dozens of additional categories, including:

Best Feature Film
Best Director
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actress
Best Child Artist
Best Screenplay
Best Music Direction
Best Editing
Best Cinematography
Best Audiography
Best Costume Design
Best Production Design
Best Lyrics
Best Playback Singer
Best Regional Films
Non-Feature Films
Writing on Cinema

The full category-wise list showcases achievements from filmmakers, technicians, actors, writers and artists across India’s diverse film industries.

Industry Reactions

Soon after the winners were announced, congratulatory messages poured in from filmmakers, actors, production houses and fans across social media.

Many praised:

Kartik Aaryan’s career-defining performance.
Mammootty’s consistency and versatility.
Yami Gautam’s impactful role.
The jury’s recognition of regional cinema.
The diversity of this year’s winners.

The awards quickly became one of the most-discussed entertainment topics online.

What Happens Next?

While the winners have now been announced, the recipients will later receive their medals and certificates at the official National Film Awards presentation ceremony, where the President of India traditionally confers the honours.

The ceremony remains one of the most prestigious events in the Indian film calendar.

The 72nd National Film Awards 2026 once again celebrated the richness and diversity of Indian cinema. With Kartik Aaryan and Mammootty sharing the Best Actor honour and Yami Gautam winning Best Actress, this year’s awards reflected a balance between mainstream success and artistic excellence.

Beyond individual victories, the awards underscored the growing strength of regional cinema, the importance of compelling storytelling, and the creative talent thriving across India’s film industries. As filmmakers continue to push boundaries across languages and genres, the National Film Awards remain a benchmark for excellence and an enduring celebration of Indian cinema at its best.

Also Read: What’s a Movie or Book That Inspired You to Travel? 15 Stories That Spark Wanderlust

FAQ’s:

Who won Best Actor at the 72nd National Film Awards?
- Kartik Aaryan (Chandu Champion) and Mammootty (Brahmayugam) jointly won the Best Actor award.
Who won Best Actress?
- Yami Gautam received the Best Actress award for her performance in Article 370.
Which year’s films were eligible?
- The 72nd National Film Awards honoured films certified by the CBFC during 2024.
Who organizes the National Film Awards?
- The awards are organized by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, with winners selected by an independent jury.
Why are the National Film Awards important?
- They are India’s highest official honours for cinema, recognizing artistic, technical and creative excellence across feature films, non-feature films and writing on cinema.