The announcement of the 71st National Film Awards on August 1, 2025, sparked widespread celebration among Shah Rukh Khan’s fans as the Bollywood icon secured his first-ever Best Actor award for his role in Jawan, a milestone in his 33-year career. However, the decision has drawn scrutiny from veteran Malayalam actress Urvashi, who questioned the fairness and transparency of the jury’s selection process in an interview with Asianet News.
Urvashi, honored with the Best Supporting Actress award for her performance in Ullozhukku alongside Gujarati actress Janki Bodiwala for Vash, expressed disappointment over the categorization of her colleague Vijayaraghavan. Despite his transformative portrayal of a 100-year-old man in the 2023 Malayalam film Pookkaalam, Vijayaraghavan was awarded Best Supporting Actor, while Shah Rukh Khan shared the Best Actor title with Vikrant Massey for 12th Fail. Urvashi challenged the criteria used to differentiate between lead and supporting roles, asking, “What exactly did the jury consider to distinguish between Vijayaraghavan’s and Shah Rukh Khan’s performances?”
Highlighting Vijayaraghavan’s dedication, Urvashi noted that she had been offered the role of his on-screen partner in Pookkaalam but declined due to the demanding makeup process, which required extensive time and effort. “He endured all of that and performed at his age,” she told , emphasizing that his commitment warranted at least a Special Mention. Urvashi stressed the need for clarity in the jury’s decision-making, stating, “We should raise such questions, as we too are taxpaying citizens.”
The veteran actress, with a career spanning over 700 films across multiple Indian languages, also voiced broader concerns about the recognition of Malayalam cinema. Her remarks reflect a call for fairness and transparency in the awards process, particularly regarding how performances are evaluated and categorized. The 71st National Film Awards have thus ignited a debate about the standards applied by the jury, with Urvashi’s critique resonating within the industry.
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