Nominations were revealed on April 8, 2026, and are listed on the official websites of both festivals. Organisers described the initiative as a step towards recognising films that entertain while inspiring thought and emotion.
The courtroom drama Haq stood out as the major winner of the night. The film secured the top honour of Best Film along with Best Actress for its lead star Yami Gautam. Directed by Suparn S Varma and also starring Emraan Hashmi, Haq drew praise for its powerful storytelling and strong performances even after its theatrical run.
Yami Gautam’s portrayal in the film has been widely appreciated by audiences and fellow actors alike, with many calling it one of her finest roles. The win adds fresh recognition to a project that resonated strongly on digital platforms later.
Acting and Direction Categories
Vicky Kaushal picked up the Best Actor trophy for his intense performance in the historical drama Chhaava. The film, which chronicled the story of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, had made a significant impact at the box office in 2025.
Aditya Dhar walked away with Best Director for Dhurandhar, the high-octane spy action thriller that went on to become one of the biggest commercial successes of the year, starring Ranveer Singh.
In the supporting categories, Boman Irani won Best Supporting Actor for The Mehta Boys, while Seema Biswas received Best Supporting Actress for her role in Jolly LLB 3.
Technical and Music Excellence
The awards also highlighted technical brilliance across several departments. Swapnil S. Sonawane earned Best Cinematography for Superboys of Malegaon. Shivkumar V. Panicker took home Best Editing for Dhurandhar.
Rojo Studio won Best Visual Effects for 120 Bahadur, and Sheetal Sharma received Best Costume Design for Chhaava. Parvez Shaikh and Todor Lazarov were recognised for Best Action in Chhaava.
On the music front, the team behind Saiyaara — including Mithoon, Sachet-Parampara, Vishal Mishra, Tanishk Bagchi, Rishabh Kant, Faheem Abdullah and Arslan Nizami — claimed Best Music. John Stewart Eduri won Best Background Score for the same film. The song “Saiyaara” was awarded Best Original Song.
New Categories Reflect Changing Landscape
The inclusion of Best OTT Film and Best Animation Film showed the evolving nature of Indian cinema. The Mehta Boys took home Best OTT Film, while Mahavatar Narsimha won Best Animation Film. Both Haq and Mahavatar Narsimha shared the Best Producer Award.
Shreedhar Dubey, Neeraj Ghaywan and Varun Grover received Best Writing for Homebound.
Organisers Highlight Purpose Behind the Awards
Hanu Roj, Founder Director of JIFF, said the awards aim to shine a light on Hindi cinema that entertains as well as inspires society. He called the winners representatives of the bright future ahead for the Indian film industry.
Nitin Sharma, spokesperson for the initiative, stressed that the process was built on transparency, quality and dedication to cinema. He added that ICA 2025 underlines how Indian Hindi cinema continues to build a strong global identity through creativity and innovation.
Films such as Haq, Chhaava, Dhurandhar, Saiyaara and The Mehta Boys dominated the list, showcasing the variety of narratives that defined 2025 — from intense courtroom dramas and historical epics to action thrillers and family stories.
Organisers have expressed hope that this first edition will set the tone for future iterations and eventually expand to other Indian film industries. The non-physical format helped maintain complete focus on the work rather than on events or glamour.
Full details of the winners, along with nominations, posters and logos, are available on the official websites www.jiffindia.org and www.ndffindia.org.
