The 72nd National Film Awards celebrated some of the finest performances in Indian cinema, with Mammootty and Kartik Aaryan sharing the Best Actor in a Leading Role award, while Yami Gautam won Best Actress in a Leading Role. The awards recognise films certified during 2024 and were presented at a ceremony held in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat, on September 22, 2026.
Mammootty and Kartik Aaryan Win Best Actor
The Best Actor award at the 72nd National Film Awards was shared by two performers from different generations and film industries.
Mammootty received the honour for his performance in the Malayalam film Bramayugam, while Kartik Aaryan was recognised for his performance in the Hindi sports drama Chandu Champion. The jury’s decision marked major recognition for both actors for their respective performances.
Mammootty’s win adds another major National Film Award recognition to his long career in Indian cinema. Kartik Aaryan, meanwhile, earned the National Award for his portrayal in Chandu Champion, a film based on the life of Paralympic swimmer Murlikant Petkar.
Sharing the Best Actor honour also highlights the range of Indian cinema represented at the National Film Awards, with performances from Malayalam and Hindi films receiving recognition in the same category.
Yami Gautam Wins Best Actress
Yami Gautam won the Best Actress in a Leading Role award for her performance in Article 370. The film also received the prestigious Best Feature Film award at the 72nd National Film Awards.
Yami Gautam’s recognition marks one of the major highlights of the latest National Film Awards. In Article 370, she played the lead role in a political drama centred around events surrounding the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.
The film’s success at the National Film Awards extended beyond the acting category, making it one of the prominent winners of the 72nd edition.
Other Major National Film Award Winners
The latest awards also recognised achievements across direction, entertainment and technical categories. Rajkumar Periasamy won Best Director for the Tamil film Amaran, while Kalki 2898 AD received the award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. Randeep Hooda won Best Debut Film of a Director for Swatantrya Veer Savarkar.
The National Film Awards continue to showcase the diversity of Indian cinema by recognising films and performances across multiple languages and genres.
