The 71st National Film Awards kicked off August with a bang for Shah Rukh Khan, who bagged the Best Actor honour for his electrifying performance in Atlee’s blockbuster Jawan (2023). While fans rejoiced at the recognition, a section of critics questioned whether a mass entertainer like Jawan was deserving of the prestigious award.

Producer-actor Nikhil Dwivedi, however, has strongly defended the jury’s decision. he shared, “The National Awards have a jury which always consists of eminent people. The problem is that a section of people questions everything. Either we should reject each and every award that they have chosen. We can’t say that the jury is right about the 5 awards but wrong about the rest of the 5 awards. That makes no sense to me. Either reject the jury’s outcome completely.”

Dwivedi further emphasized that selective acceptance of awards is unfair: “It’s not fair to say ‘I like this artist and hence, you have chosen correctly’ or ‘This artist should not have won’. Then, you become the jury! This commentary is absurd. I am sure the jury has taken its decision in full wisdom. These are the people who have been in the world of cinema for years. They must have thought it well and we must respect it.”

In Jawan, SRK delivered a powerhouse performance in a double role, as Vikram Rathore, a memory-lost soldier, and his son Azad, a prison-born police officer turned vigilante. The film’s high-octane drama, action, and emotional core struck a chord with audiences, and the father-son dynamic added depth to Khan’s portrayal.

With the National Award win sparking debate, Dwivedi’s words serve as a reminder that the jury’s collective decision deserves respect, regardless of individual preferences.