Laapataa Ladies' Nitanshi Goel beats THESE actresses to win IIFA Best Actress; drops tears of joy

The Best Actress in a Leading Role (Female) category at the IIFA Awards 2025 was a clash of titans: three of Bollywood's most beloved stars, and a critically acclaimed powerhouse performer. Yet, the night belonged to a 17-year-old newcomer, who stole the show and defied expectations. At the distinguished IIFA Awards 2025, performer Nitanshi Goel's path from novice to ‘top actress’ was nothing less than remarkable.

The actress, who made her first appearance in Kiran Rao's celebrated film Laapataa Ladies, found herself overcome with feelings as she received the award for her depiction of Phool Kumari in the movie. Seasoned actors Boman Irani and Bobby Deol presented her with the honor, and Nitanshi astounded attendees in a captivating ruby-red gown.

However, it was her sincere acceptance speech that truly touched the audience. Overwhelmed with emotions, Nitanshi almost choked back tears, while expressing gratitude to the film's team and her family.

Nitanshi outshone Alia Bhatt (Jigra), Katrina Kaif (Merry Christmas), Yami Gautam (Article 370), and Shraddha Kapoor (Stree 2) to win her first significant acting award.

While speaking to ANI about the win, she said, "I wasn't expecting this," adding, "I was hoping Laapataa Ladies would win big, but I didn't think I would win myself. The other nominees were incredible, and I'm a huge fan of all of them. I'm truly overwhelmed by the love I've received."

When asked about the emotional moment that brought tears to her eyes, she revealed, "It's become a thing now. Honestly, I couldn't stop crying because winning this award is a dream come true for every actor, and it's finally come true for me. I'm just so grateful."

The first thing I did was cry and try to put together a speech because I couldn't believe it was happening. Then I gave my mom a big hug, and a huge hug to Kiran ma'am. It was all just happy tears

- Nitanshi

Looking ahead, Nitanshi expressed enthusiasm about collaborating with more stars. "There are so many people on my list," she said, adding, "But Shah Rukh sir tops the chart, followed by Kartik Aaryan. It would be amazing to work with any of them."

"Lost Ladies," the international release of "Laapataa Ladies," is a 2023 Hindi-language comedic drama directed by Kiran Rao. It narrates the tale of two newly married women who are unintentionally swapped during a train journey to their husbands' residences.

The film, which also features Pratibha Ranta, Sparsh Shrivastava, and Ravi Kishan, received acclaim for its captivating plot and acting performances.