Vikrant Massey & Rani Mukherjee may bag best actor & actress in 71st National Awards; Report

The National Film Awards have once again seen a delay, a pattern that began during the pandemic and continues to affect their annual schedule. While the 2023 awards celebrated films from 2022, this year’s ceremony will finally honour the films released in 2023.

As of now, the official date for the announcement of the 71st National Film Awards is still under wraps. However, according to a report published by Bollywood Hungama, the announcement could be made within the next 48 hours. With the reveal expected any time soon, chatter has already begun about who might take home the big wins this year.

In the Best Actor category, all signs seem to point toward Vikrant Massey for his standout performance in 12th Fail. The report claims that his win is almost confirmed. A source quoted by the portal said, “Vikrant Massey’s performance in 12th Fail is getting him the National Award. It is final.”

Vikrant Massey’s performance in 12th Fail is getting him the National Award. It is final.

- Source

The film, which tells the inspiring story of an underdog who beats the odds to crack the UPSC exams, was widely appreciated for its honesty and emotional depth. Vikrant’s portrayal struck a chord with audiences and critics alike, making his name a frontrunner this award season.

In the Best Actress race, Rani Mukerji is reportedly a top contender for her role in Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway, where she played a distraught mother fighting a foreign legal system. While the final decision is still under wraps, the report also hints at two actresses from the South Indian film industry being strong competitors in the same category.

Although no formal statement has been issued by the Ministry or jury panel, the buzz has sparked excitement across the industry. If the reports turn out to be true, both Vikrant and Rani could be adding major milestones to their already impressive careers.

Fans are now keeping a close eye on updates, waiting for the official list of winners to be released—possibly within the next two days.