National Film Awards 2026: Two Actor Share Best Actor Honour; Allu Arjun Misses

The 72nd National Film Awards brought great news for Indian cinema. This year, the Best Actor award was shared by two talented stars Kartik Aaryan and Mammootty. Both actors received the prestigious honour for their outstanding performances in films released during 2024.

Kartik Aaryan won the Best Actor award for his role in Chandu Champion, directed by Kabir Khan. The film is based on the inspiring life of a sportsman who overcomes many struggles to achieve success. Kartik worked very hard for the role and impressed both critics and audiences with his emotional and powerful performance.

Veteran Malayalam superstar Mammootty also received the Best Actor award for his performance in Bramayugam. The black-and-white horror thriller became one of the most talked-about films of the year. Mammootty's intense screen presence and brilliant acting earned praise from fans, critics, and filmmakers across the country. This National Award is another major achievement in his long and successful career. However this time Allu Arjun missed best actor award for Pushpa 2 as for Pushpa 1 he bagged the award.

The winners of the 72nd National Film Awards were announced in New Delhi on July 18, 2026. The awards honoured films that received certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) between January 1 and December 31, 2024. An 11-member jury, led by filmmaker Jayaraj, selected the winners after reviewing films from different Indian languages.

The National Film Awards are considered one of the highest honours in Indian cinema. Winning a National Award is a dream for every actor because it recognises talent and performance rather than box office success.

This year, many popular films and performances were in the race. However, the jury chose Kartik Aaryan and Mammootty as joint winners for Best Actor, celebrating two very different but equally memorable performances.