The 71st National Film Awards, announced on 1 August 2025, brought celebrations for Shah Rukh Khan fans as the Bollywood superstar bagged his first-ever National Award for Best Actor for his performance in Jawan, a landmark moment in his 33-year-long career.
However, the decision hasn’t gone down well with everyone. Veteran South Indian actress Urvashi, who herself won the Best Supporting Actress award for her role in Ullozhukku, voiced concern over the fairness of the jury’s selection, specifically in relation to Malayalam actor Vijayaraghavan.
In an interview with Asianet News, Urvashi questioned why Vijayaraghavan, known for his critically acclaimed performance in Pookkaalam, was relegated to the Best Supporting Actor category.
“Vijayaraghavan is such a great actor. What exactly did the jury consider distinguishing between Vijayaraghavan’s and Shah Rukh Khan’s performances? How did one become a supporting actor and the other the best actor? On what criteria? We should raise such questions, as we too are taxpaying citizens. Kutettan (referring to Vijayaraghavan) has decades of experience in cinema. The film wasn’t a big-budget, 250-day shoot kind of project like those in other languages,” she said.
Urvashi also shared that she had been offered the role opposite Vijayaraghavan in Pookkaalam but turned it down due to the demanding physical transformation involved.
“I was initially approached to play his pair in Pookkaalam. Still, I declined because the role required me to undergo a significant physical transformation, for which I would have had to be in the makeup chair for several hours. I told them, even if you pay me crores, I wouldn’t do it. But he, at his age, endured all of that and performed. That alone deserves at least a Special Mention. How is he only a supporting actor? On what basis was that decided? That’s all I’m asking, there must be some fairness,” Urvashi added.
At this year’s awards, Shah Rukh Khan shared the Best Actor honor with Vikrant Massey for 12th Fail. Vijayaraghavan was named Best Supporting Actor for Pookkaalam, in which he starred opposite veteran actress K. P. A. C. Leela.
Meanwhile, Urvashi shared her own award with Janki Bodiwala, recognized for her supporting role in the Gujarati film Vash.
(With inputs from NDTV)
Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.
