From television to National Award: Shah Rukh Khan and Vikrant Massey's full-circle moment

Summary:

• Shah Rukh Khan wins his first Best Actor National Award for his dual role in Jawan.

• Vikrant Massey earns the honour for his powerful performance in 12th Fail.

• Both actors began their journeys in television, making this a full-circle achievement

It's a moment that more than Shah Rukh Khan, his fans must have awaited from the past three decades—to see the superstar win a National Film Award. From Devdas (2002) and Swades (2004) to Chak De! India (2007) and My Name is Khan (2010), every time he delivered a stupendous performance, his fans just hoped to see him receive the nation's highest honour in films. Now, after a long and actually very long wait, SRK has won the Best Actor at the 71st National Film Awards for his incredible performance in a dual role in Atlee's Jawan (2023). On August 1, 2025, the superstar was announced as the winner and he's sharing it with none other than Vikrant Massey for 12th Fail, which was definitely unsurprising and completely deserving!

Significant moment for Shah Rukh Khan

Receiving the National Award for Jawan is a significant achievement and much-needed validation for Shah Rukh Khan. Khan, who is widely considered among the world's most famous and beloved performers, had never before won the Best Actor National Award. In Atlee's Jawan, he blends action, emotional depth, and political criticism in a dual part that challenges his screen persona. Fans and critics, who had long hoped for the superstar to realise his full dramatic potential, were moved by his multi-layered performances as Vikram Rathore and Azad, which included anger, pain, charisma, and redemption.

Interestingly, in 2019, when SRK was asked about not winning a National Award until then, the superstar said in a Hindustan Times interview, "I am fine, but having said that, why not have that also? Ek Oscar aur ek National Award aa jaaye toh accha lagega, sab complete ho jayega. (If I get one Oscar and one National Award, it’ll feel good—everything will feel complete)."

ALSO READ: 71st National Film Awards 2023 Full Winners List: Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukerji, Vikrant Massey win Best Actors

Vikrant Massey’s career-defining performance

In stark contrast to the high-octane swagger of Jawan, Vikrant Massey's 12th Fail is far more subdued, restrained, and real. Playing the role of Manoj Kumar Sharma, a real-life Indian Police Service officer who overcame poverty and failed to pass one of India's most difficult tests, Massey gave a performance that defined his career. The portrayal he provided gave strength, perseverance, and optimism a human face. At the film's heart, Massey stood with humility and grace, touching the hearts of millions of aspirants, students, and regular citizens across the nation. His success at the National Awards is evidence of his character and his tenacity.

Parallel journeys from television to film

What makes this moment especially significant is the shared trajectory of both winners. Iconic Indian TV series like Fauji and Circus launched Shah Rukh Khan's acting career in the late '80s. He jumped straight into film and became a superstar in the mid-1990s. In contrast, Vikrant Massey made a smooth transition from television to film, establishing a body of work renowned for subtlety and sincerity, with credits such as Dhoom Machaao Dhoom and Balika Vadhu to his name.

Interestingly, back in 2022, Massey starred in ZEE5's Love Hostel, which was a thriller co-produced by Shah Rukh's production banner, Red Chillies Entertainment.

In a 2022 interview with India Today, Massey spoke about SRK's involvement in the film by stating, "He is always involved with everything that he lends his name or credibility to. He is always involved in some way or other. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to meet him, but he was aware of everything that was happening during the shoot, on sets, and with all the edits. He knew everything and that is why he is the Shah Rukh Khan."

He added, "I will share an incredible anecdote. We had our first script narration with him and after that it took a couple of months to take everything forward. Then, when he was sitting in the meeting after two months, we were surprised to know that he remembered every character’s name, the entire screenplay, and incidents in the film and he didn't even have the script in front of him. So the sharpness he brings and is blessed with has been reflected in the work we have done. It's been an incredible experience to just sort of know he is there and backing us."

Vikrant Massey on being called ‘The Next Shah Rukh Khan’

Earlier, in 2024, when Massey was asked about people calling him "the next Shah Rukh Khan," the actor humbly responded to Bollywood Bubble by saying, "Oh, this is a huge deal, sir, whoever you are. If you are listening or watching, I’ll thank you personally. So, thank you very, very much. It’s such a big thing—people like this come around once in a century. It feels nice to hear such things; what can I even say? But, again, it’s Shah Rukh Khan. He has been working for 35 years, whereas I’ve only been here for 10–12 years. Comparing me to him is unfair to him. I feel truly honoured, but it’s unfair to him."

All things said and done, this National Award win, for Shah Rukh Khan, is a crowning jewel in a legendary career. For Vikrant Massey, it’s a career-defining moment for a performance that has gone down in the history of Indian cinema.

FAQs:

Q: Who won Best Actor at the 71st National Film Awards?

A: Shah Rukh Khan and Vikrant Massey were jointly awarded Best Actor at the 71st National Film Awards for their performances in Jawan and 12th Fail, respectively.

Q: Has Shah Rukh Khan ever won a National Award before?

A: No, the 71st National Film Awards marked Shah Rukh Khan's first-ever win for Best Actor at the National Awards.

Q: What is common between Shah Rukh Khan and Vikrant Massey?

A: Both actors began their careers on Indian television before transitioning to films and ultimately winning Best Actor at the National Film Awards.