Vikrant Massey reacts to National Award win, says it’s a ‘privilege’ to share it with Shah Rukh Khan

Actor Vikrant Massey has expressed deep gratitude after winning the Best Actor award at the 71st National Film Awards, an honour he shares with Shah Rukh Khan, who received the same for Jawan. For Vikrant, this moment marks not just a professional milestone but something deeply personal — the fulfilment of a long-held dream.

In a formal statement following the announcement, Massey said, “I want to thank the Honourable Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the NFDC, and all the esteemed jury members of the 71st National Film Awards for considering my performance worthy of this recognition.” He won for 12th Fail, directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra.

Massey also acknowledged Chopra’s role in shaping this moment in his career. “I also want to thank Shri Vidhu Vinod Chopra ji for giving me this opportunity. Today, if I may say so, a 20-year-old boy’s dream has come true,” he wrote.

He described the award as a privilege, particularly because of whom he shares it with. “It is a privilege to be sharing my first National Award with an icon like Shah Rukh Khan,” he added, nodding to Khan's win for a mainstream action role in Jawan — his first National Film Award in a career spanning over three decades.

The actor didn’t end his message without acknowledging a deeper sense of responsibility. “Lastly, I dedicate this award to all the marginalised people in our society — those who are often looked through, and those who are fighting the socio-economic paradigm of our country every single day,” he said.

12th Fail, released in 2023, is based on the real-life journey of IPS officer Manoj Kumar Sharma, who rose from poverty to enter the Indian civil services. The film, adapted from Anurag Pathak’s non-fiction book, explores systemic challenges and personal grit. Massey’s role as Sharma was widely noted for its realism and restraint.

With this win, Vikrant Massey joins a new league of actors whose performances are not just recognised for star value but for layered, grounded storytelling.