The 71st National Film Awards ceremony in New Delhi on September 23, 2025, was a night of celebration and recognition for Indian cinema, with several Bollywood luminaries receiving prestigious honors. Following the ceremony, a photo of Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukerji, and Karan Johar enjoying dinner at Rashtrapati Bhavan went viral, capturing a celebratory moment among friends and colleagues.
Shah Rukh Khan received his first National Award for Best Actor for his performance in the film Jawan. Rani Mukerji won Best Actress for her role in Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway. Karan Johar was honored for his film Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani which won the National Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. Veteran actor Mohanlal received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for his lifetime contribution to Indian cinema. Vikrant Massey also won the Best Actor award for his role in 12th Fail.
A heartwarming moment from the awards ceremony that went viral showed Shah Rukh Khan helping Rani Mukerji with the pallu of her saree as they were finding their seats. Fans praised Shah Rukh's gentlemanly gesture, with many expressing nostalgia for their past films together.
After receiving his award, Shah Rukh Khan shared an emotional video on social media, expressing gratitude to his fans, family, team, and the jury. His children, Aryan and Suhana Khan, also shared a heartfelt post congratulating their father on his achievement. Shah Rukh's wife, Gauri Khan, also shared a loving note and revealed she would be designing a special mantle to hold his National Award. Karan Johar expressed his joy at winning in the same year as Rani and Shah Rukh.
The viral photo of Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukerji, and Karan Johar at Rashtrapati Bhavan captured a relaxed and celebratory atmosphere. The image showed the three friends sitting at a reserved table, engaged in conversation.
The 71st National Film Awards celebrated films released in 2023 and recognized excellence in various categories. Vaibhavi Merchant won Best Choreography for the song "Dhindhora Baje Re" in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, while Nandu Prudhvi received the award for Best Action Direction (Stunt Choreography) for Hanu-Man. Sam Bahadur won awards for make-up and costume design, and Kathal: A Jackfruit Mystery was named Best Hindi Film. Deepak Kingrani was awarded Best Dialogue Writer for the Hindi film Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai.
