The 72nd National Film Awards turned the spotlight on Mammootty, Dhanush, Kartik Aaryan, Yami Gautam, Randeep Hooda, and Sanjay Mishra, celebrating standout performances, career milestones, and memorable moments from the awards night.
The 72nd National Film Awards are among Indian cinema’s most prestigious honours, recognising outstanding talent and films across languages and regions. This year, the ceremony moved to Ekta Nagar in Gujarat, where President Droupadi Murmu presented the awards. Among the many names in the spotlight, Mammootty, Kartik Aaryan, Yami Gautam, Sanjay Mishra, Randeep Hooda and Dhanush had notable connections to the winning films and honours.
Mammootty — Bramayugam
Mammootty won the Best Actor in a Leading Role award for his powerful performance as Kodumon Potti in Bramayugam. The honour added another major achievement to his illustrious career and marked his fourth National Film Award for Best Actor.
Kartik Aaryan — Chandu Champion
Kartik Aaryan shared the Best Actor in a Leading Role honour for Chandu Champion. He portrayed Paralympic swimmer Murlikant Petkar, undergoing a significant physical transformation for the role. The performance became an important milestone in his career and earned him one of the evening’s top acting honours.
Yami Gautam — Article 370
Yami Gautam took home the Best Actress in a Leading Role award for Article 370. She played an intelligence officer in the political action thriller, which also received the award for Best Feature Film. The recognition added another significant achievement to her journey in Hindi cinema.
Sanjay Mishra — Bhakshak
Sanjay Mishra was honoured with the Best Actor in a Supporting Role award for Bhakshak. His performance contributed to the film’s intense and socially relevant narrative, earning him one of the major acting honours at the 72nd National Film Awards.
Randeep Hooda — Swatantrya Veer Savarkar
Randeep Hooda marked a new chapter in his career with Swatantrya Veer Savarkar, making his directorial debut while also portraying the titular character. The film won the Best Debut Film of a Director award, recognising his work behind the camera and adding a new dimension to his career.
Dhanush — Captain Miller
Dhanush was associated with Captain Miller, directed by Arun Matheswaran. The film received the Best Feature Film Promoting National, Social and Environmental Values award. While Dhanush did not receive an individual acting honour at the 72nd National Film Awards, his association with the winning film made him one of the notable stars connected to this year’s celebrations.
Six Stars, Six Different Journeys
The 72nd National Film Awards highlighted the many ways artists contribute to Indian cinema—through acting, direction and powerful storytelling. For Mammootty, Kartik Aaryan, Yami Gautam, Sanjay Mishra, Randeep Hooda and Dhanush, the evening represented different milestones, achievements and connections to films that earned national recognition.
From a veteran actor adding another honour to his legacy to an actor stepping behind the camera for a new beginning, the awards night captured the diverse journeys that continue to shape Indian cinema.
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