72nd National Film Awards: Mammootty, Yami Gautam, Kartik Aaryan win Best Actor Awards

The winners of the 72nd National Film Awards have been announced, with Yami Gautam, Mammootty and Kartik Aaryan winning top acting honours. The prestigious awards recognised outstanding films and performances from across Indian cinema.Mammooty (Left), Yami Gautam (Centre) and Kartik Aaryan (Right) won best actor awards at the 72nd National Film Awards.New Delhi,UPDATED: Jul 18, 2026 19:19 ISTActors Mammootty and Kartik Aaryan won the Best Actor award, while Yami Gautam was named Best Actress for her performance at the 72nd National Film Awards. The winners were announced by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting during a press conference held at the National Media Centre in New Delhi on Friday.The prestigious awards recognise films certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) during 2024. An 11-member jury, led by acclaimed filmmaker Jayaraj, finalised the winners across various categories. Jayaraj, who was earlier part of the National Film Awards jury in 2012, headed the panel responsible for evaluating and selecting this year's honours.Malayalam cinema once again emerged as a strong contender at the awards following a successful year for the industry. Films like Bramayugam, Manjummel Boys and Kishkindha Kaandam received widespread appreciation and were among the notable entries competing for top honours.The competition featured acclaimed films from different industries, including Hindi films such as Article 370, Srikanth and Chandu Champion. Tamil cinema was represented by titles like Maharaja, Meiyazhagan and Amaran, while Telugu releases including Kalki 2898 AD, Lucky Baskhar and Devara: Part 1 also made their mark. The National Film Awards are among India's most prestigious film honours, celebrating excellence in filmmaking, acting and technical achievements across languages and genres. This year's winners highlight the diversity and evolving storytelling landscape of Indian cinema.- EndsPublished By: Sonali VermaPublished On: Jul 18, 2026 18:18 IST