National Award Jury member says she hasn’t washed her hands after handshake with Shah Rukh Khan

The 71st National Film Awards turned out to be historic as Shah Rukh Khan bagged his first-ever National Award for his role in Jawan. While the win itself was a milestone for the superstar, it also created a moment that jury member and actor Prakruti Mishra says she will never forget.

“When I was selected to be a part of the central panel jury for the 71st National Film Awards, I didn’t know I would be one of the eleven members responsible for @iamsrk Sir receiving his much-deserved and long-awaited first National Award,” she wrote. Quoting the famous line from Om Shanti Om, she added, “Agar kisi cheez ko dil se chaho toh puri kainaat usse tumse milane ki koshish mein lag jaati hai.”

She went on to call the win a personal victory that inspires every Indian artist “to hope, to strive, and to win,” and thanked SRK for his humility, hard work, and grace.

After three decades and countless blockbusters, Shah Rukh Khan received the Best Actor award for Jawan, directed by Atlee. The film tackled social issues like unemployment and farmers’ suicides while delivering them in a larger-than-life, commercial format.

The awards night at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi also celebrated several other names.