Highlights:
Mammootty, Kartik Aaryan, Yami Gautam and Randeep Hooda are among the biggest names being honored at the 72nd National Film Awards, with this year’s ceremony bringing some of Indian cinema’s most celebrated stars to Gujarat.
Mammootty and Kartik Aaryan are sharing the Best Actor award for Bramayugam and Chandu Champion, respectively. For Mammootty, the honor marks his fourth National Film Award for Best Actor.
Yami Gautam has won Best Actress in a Leading Role for Article 370, which has also been named Best Feature Film. Randeep Hooda, meanwhile, has received the Best Debut Director award for Swatantrya Veer Savarkar.
Veteran Kannada actor Anant Nag is also receiving the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2024, one of the most significant honors in Indian cinema.
A National Film Awards ceremony unlike any before
The star-studded event is taking place on Tuesday (22) at Ekta Nagar in Kevadia, Gujarat, with President Droupadi Murmu presenting the honors.
What makes this edition particularly notable is its location. The National Film Awards have traditionally been held in New Delhi, but this year’s ceremony is taking place outside the capital for the first time. The government has also indicated that future editions will be hosted in different states and cities.
The awards are being held against the backdrop of the Statue of Unity, giving the ceremony a distinctly Gujarat setting.
For the state, the event means a major gathering of Indian cinema stars, filmmakers and industry professionals at Ekta Nagar.
92 winners are being honored
The 72nd National Film Awards are recognizing achievements in Indian cinema during 2024, with 92 winners being honored across different categories. The winners were announced in July 2026.
Alongside Article 370, other major films receiving recognition include Amaran, Kalki 2898 AD, Pushpa: The Rule Part-02, Stree 2 and Maharaja.
Rajkumar Periasamy has won Best Direction for Amaran, while Kalki 2898 AD has been named Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment.
Mammootty reflects on his fourth National Award
For Mammootty, the Gujarat ceremony adds another milestone to an already celebrated career.
Speaking to DD National, the actor described the recognition as an inspiration and credited the directors, writers, co-stars, producers and audiences who have supported him throughout his career.
“It’s an inspiration to every performer to get recognised by the nation and luckily I’m very fortunate to have my fourth National Award for the Best Actor. It’s been a long journey with a lot of people behind me or supporting me, my directors, my writers, my co-actors and my producer and the people who were appreciating me.”
He also said he hopes to continue entertaining audiences and working for many more years.
From Delhi to the Statue of Unity
The move to Gujarat gives the 72nd National Film Awards an unusual backdrop.
Instead of the familiar Vigyan Bhawan setting in New Delhi, this year’s ceremony is taking place at Ekta Nagar, near the Statue of Unity. The location reflects the government's plan to take future editions of the awards to different parts of India.
It also gives Gujarat a rare moment in the spotlight as some of Indian cinema’s biggest names gather in the state for one of the country's most prestigious film ceremonies.
How to watch the National Film Awards
For viewers at home, the ceremony is being streamed live on DD National’s YouTube channel from 3 p.m. IST on Tuesday (22). President Murmu begins presenting the awards from 4 p.m.
With Mammootty, Kartik Aaryan, Yami Gautam, Randeep Hooda and Anant Nag among the major names being honored, the 72nd National Film Awards mark both a celebration of Indian cinema and a new chapter for the ceremony itself.
Katrina Kaif reacts to postpartum beauty comments, reveals her 'skin became sensitive' and 'feeling best matters more'
Katrina Kaif attends the green carpet at the NEXA IIFA Awards at Jaipur Exhibition and Convention Centre on March 09, 2025 in Jaipur, India.
Katrina Kaif has spent much of her career being associated with beauty — from modeling and Bollywood films to red-carpet appearances and her makeup business. But motherhood has changed the way the actor looks at her appearance.
In a recent conversation with The Hollywood Reporter India, Kaif spoke about beauty standards, self-care and the changes she experienced after giving birth. Her comments come as paparazzi photographs and videos of the actor have drawn harsh reactions online, with some social media users comparing her postpartum appearance with how she looked earlier in her career.
Rather than focusing on returning to her old appearance, Kaif said her priorities have changed. For her, looking her best now starts with feeling her best.
Katrina Kaif reacts to changing beauty standards
Kaif recalled the pressure surrounding beauty when she began her modeling and acting career. She said there were many stereotypes about what women were expected to look like.
Today, she views beauty differently.
“Looking my best is really about feeling my best,” Kaif said, explaining that taking care of herself as a whole has become more important.
She linked that feeling to several aspects of her lifestyle, including maintaining a healthy diet, staying active, managing inflammation, meditating and spending time away from her phone. She also mentioned getting natural light in the morning as part of her routine.
For Kaif, the connection between health and appearance is straightforward: when she feels healthy, she believes that confidence naturally shows on the outside.
Her comments come at a time when celebrity appearances continue to receive intense scrutiny online. Paparazzi posts featuring Kaif have attracted comments about her postpartum body and appearance, with some users comparing recent images with photographs from earlier stages of her career.
Her skin changed after giving birth
Kaif also opened up about a specific physical change she noticed after pregnancy.
According to the actor, her skin became significantly more sensitive after giving birth. That made it difficult for her to determine which products were actually working for her.
She is now focusing on what she describes as deep cellular hydration, strengthening her skin barrier and keeping her skin calm and resilient.
Dermatologist Dr. Shireen Furtado, senior consultant in medical and cosmetic dermatology at Aster CMI Hospital, explained that postpartum hormonal changes, stress, sleep disruption and dehydration can affect the skin in different ways.
Skin may become drier, more sensitive, oilier or more prone to pigmentation after childbirth. Because of those changes, she advised new mothers to focus on basic skin health instead of trying to immediately recreate their pre-pregnancy appearance.
Kaif’s postpartum approach is more about self-care
For Kaif, the shift appears to be bigger than skincare. Motherhood has changed the way she defines looking good.
Instead of chasing a particular appearance, she is emphasizing health, balance and understanding what her body and skin need at a particular stage.
Furtado similarly recommends keeping postpartum skincare simple, with a gentle cleanser, moisturizer and broad-spectrum sunscreen as a starting point. She also cautions against unnecessary products, harsh scrubs, strong exfoliants and irritating fragrances when skin is sensitive.
Some ingredients, including retinoids, require particular caution during breastfeeding and should be discussed with a dermatologist before use.
Kaif's comments offer a different perspective on the pressure faced by women after childbirth, particularly public figures whose appearances are constantly photographed and discussed.
Her message is less about looking the way she did before motherhood and more about feeling comfortable in the person she is now. For an actor whose appearance has been part of public conversation throughout her career, that represents a noticeable shift in how she approaches beauty.