Overview
- Ashutosh Gowariker, this year’s Feature Film Jury head and director of Swades, shared a photo with Shah Rukh Khan and posted a congratulatory note from the National Awards dais.
- Anupam Kher told PTI that Khan “100% should have got the National Award” for Swades and said the new honor validates mainstream cinema.
- Fans amplified the Swades connection in replies to Gowariker’s post, frequently saying the Best Actor win felt like overdue justice for the 2004 performance.
- Khan received the Rajat Kamal for Jawan from President Droupadi Murmu on September 23 at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, sharing Best Actor with Vikrant Massey for 12th Fail.
- Other honorees included Rani Mukerji as Best Actress and Mohanlal with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, while Khan publicly thanked his recent directors, notably Atlee, for trusting him with Jawan.