Shah Rukh Khan recently won his first-ever National Award for Best Actor for his performance in Jawan at the 71st National Film Awards announced on Friday, August 1.
He shared the award with Vikrant Massey, who was recognised for 12th Fail.
Meanwhile, veteran Malayalam actress Urvashi won the Best Supporting Actress award for Ullzohukku, along with Janki Bodiwala for the Gujarati film Vash.
However, Urvashi has now criticised the National Awards jury and questioned how Shah Rukh Khan was chosen as Best Actor.
She said Malayalam actor Vijayaraghavan should have received that honour for his performance in Pookkaalam. Instead, he was given the Best Supporting Actor award, which he shared with MS Bhaskar for the Tamil film Parking.
In an interview with Manorama News, Urvashi said, “Vijayaraghavan is an amazing actor. What did the jury see in Shah Rukh Khan’s performance that made them choose him as Best Actor and call Vijayaraghavan only a Supporting Actor? On what basis? We have a right to ask such questions, we’re taxpayers too. Vijayaraghavan has years of experience. Pookkaalam was not a high-budget film with a 250-day shoot like some big films in other languages.”
She also revealed that she was first offered the female lead opposite Vijayaraghavan in Pookkaalam, but turned it down because the role required long hours of makeup and physical changes.
“I told them, even if you pay me crores, I can’t do that. But he did all that at his age and gave a brilliant performance. That alone deserves at least a Special Mention. So how was he labelled just a supporting actor? What was the criteria? All I’m asking is for fairness.”
Urvashi, whose real name is Kavitha Ranjini, is one of India’s most respected actors, with over 700 films to her name across Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi cinema.
She is often called the "Meryl Streep of South Indian Cinema" for her powerful performances and screen presence.
