Mukesh Khanna defends Shah Rukh Khan's National Award win: "He has been working hard for the past 40 years now..."

The recent announcement of the National Awards swept the entertainment industry with a wave of joy. Though everyone’s victory is being celebrated with utmost love, the news of Shah Rukh Khan’s maiden win brought a different contentment for his fans. However, amid all the congratulatory messages, some raised eyebrows on the matter, including South actress Urvashi.

Urvashi herself bagged the National Award for ‘Best Supporting Actress’ for her work in ‘Ullozhukku.’ However, when it came to SRK’s big win, she questioned the fairness of the jury and the criteria used for King Khan’s selection. Weighing in on the matter, ‘Shaktimaan’ fame Mukesh Khanna, during his conversation with IANS, mentioned that it is also political to say that the National Award should have been given to an actor from the South film industry.

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Shah Rukh Khan wins his first National Award; celebs and fans celebrate the long-overdue honour

Mukesh Khanna defends Shah Rukh Khan’s National Award victory

“People who are saying that Shah Rukh Khan should not have received the award for this film (Jawan) but for Swades — remember A R Rahman received the Oscar for ‘Jai Ho’ and not for the various beautiful songs he created in the past,” said Mukesh Khanna.

“Shah Rukh has been working hard for the past 40 years now — so what is wrong if he has received a National Award?” he added.

Shah Rukh Khan expresses gratitude following his big win

King Khan has been ruling cinema and hearts for decades now. In addition to this craft, he is known for his people skills and down-to-earth attitude. As the news of his National Award came out, the actor expressed his gratitude through a video, where he said, “They know my obsession with cinema takes me away from them, but they all bear it with a smile and allow me the time. So thank you very much for that. A National Award is not just about achievement. It’s a reminder that what I do matters. It tells me to keep going, keep working hard, keep creating, and keep serving cinema. In a world full of noise, to be heard — truly heard — is a blessing.”

“And I promise to use this recognition not as a finish line but as fuel to continue striving, learning, and giving life. This award is a reminder to me that acting is not just work, it’s a responsibility. It’s a responsibility to show the truth on screen,” he quoted.