Krishnadev Yagnik's Vash won Best Gujarati Film and Janki Bodiwala received Best Supporting Actress for her strong performance.
Because of these honours, Gujarati cinema experienced a very special moment at the 71st National Film Awards (2025).
The film's talented cast includes Janki, Hiten Kumar, Hitu Kanodia, and Niilam Panchaal. It was written and directed by Yagnik and produced by Kalpesh K. Soni and Krunal Soni. It swiftly gained popularity both in Gujarat and elsewhere, and it served as the inspiration for the Hindi adaptation Shaitaan, which starred Janki again and featured Ajay Devgn and R. Madhavan.
Vash: Level 2, which continues to delight audiences with a strong box office run and positive reviews, is another example of the franchise's success.
Speaking about this proud achievement, Krishnadev Yagnik said, “This year has been nothing short of surreal. From the resounding success of Vash: Level 2 to now receiving the National Award, it feels like we’ve come full circle — like Gujarati cinema is finally getting the recognition it deserves. With this franchise, we’ve been able to take Gujarati storytelling to the next level, and I hope we can continue pushing it to a pan-India level. Kudos to the entire team for making this possible.
Janki, Hiten Bhai, Hitu Bhai, and all our actors brought incredible dedication to their characters, and this recognition belongs to each one of them.”
Janaki also took to Instagram and shared photos from the event.
For Janki Bodiwala, the award was a truly emotional moment. She shared, “I truly feel on top of the world. The release of Vash: Level 2 was already a blessing, and now to receive the National Award is beyond words. This year, I’ve been lucky to cross paths twice with the great Shah Rukh Khan — first when he handed me the IIFA award, and again here at the National Awards as he received the Best Actor award. To see him get this recognition for his lifelong contribution to cinema feels so well deserved, and being in the same room for this moment is unforgettable. When the National Award announcement came, it was the very same day the Vash: Level 2 trailer launched — it truly felt like destiny, a ‘Vash day’ I will cherish forever. I owe this honour entirely to my director Krishnadev Yagnik sir, who pushed me to discover my best performance, and to my wonderful co-stars Hitu Kanodia ji and Hiten Kumar ji, who brought out so much in me through their own brilliance. The entire credit goes to our team — this award belongs to all of us.”
Producers Krunal and Kalpesh Soni expressed their heartfelt gratitude, saying, “We are truly honoured that Vash has received the National Award for Best Gujarati Film. This recognition is a testament to the vision of our director KD and the incredible hard work of the entire cast and crew, who poured their heart into bringing this story to life. We are grateful for their unwavering dedication and to the audiences whose love has made this journey so memorable and brought us to the national stage.”
As Vash enjoys its well-deserved success at the National Awards, Vash: Level 2 continues to charm audiences in theatres, proving that great stories from regional cinema can connect with viewers everywhere.
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