2001 Filmfare best debut awards got it all wrong

You know what I was revisiting today? The Filmfare Awards for 2001, especially the Best Debut discussions. It still feels like such an interesting year because four really distinct newcomers made their mark:

• Tusshar Kapoor with Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai – riding on boy-next-door charm and a surprisingly confident screen presence.

• Bipasha Basu with Ajnabee – sultry, assured, and already carrying the aura of a star in the making.

• Arjun Rampal in Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat – tall, brooding, model-turned-actor who clearly had the screen gravitas, even if the film didn’t fully deliver.

• Dia Mirza in Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein – soft-spoken, ethereal, and every bit the quintessential “dream girl” of that era.

Now here’s the debate: Did Tusshar and Bipasha deserve their wins more than Arjun and Dia?

If we look purely at performance – Tusshar surprised everyone. He wasn’t the most polished actor of his generation, but his earnestness worked, and audiences genuinely warmed to him. Bipasha, on the other hand, had a bolder launch and seemed instantly comfortable on screen – you could tell she’d stick around.

Arjun’s case is trickier. PIAM didn’t quite click, but you can’t deny he had striking presence, the kind you don’t forget even if the film stumbles. And then there’s Dia – perhaps not the most powerful performer in her first outing, but she had that luminous charm which made RHTDM iconic for an entire generation of romantics.

So the question really becomes: do awards reward the safest debuts, or the most memorable ones? Tusshar and Bipasha ticked the boxes for “impact” that year, but Arjun and Dia arguably laid down roles that have had longer emotional resonance with fans.

Up for debate, folks! 🥰 What do you think – were the awards spot on, or should Arjun’s intensity and Dia’s everlasting RHTDM magic have edged out the winners?

Dia was an instant flop. She had 3 movies in 2001 and the one to grab the most attention out of her other beauty queen winners because she had the most conventional BW heroine looks..a face made for hindi cinema esp back in early 2000s ruined by her awful acting, terrible voice and horrible dialogue delivery. She definitely did not deserve an award neither did bipasha who couldn't even dub for herself and basically was only doing modelling through out the movie.

If anyone deserved the award, it was Gracy Singh for Lagaan.

Standards were low for newcomers that year esp after the big newcomers year 2000. Tushar and Arjun were much better than the ladies. Tushar was given the award because hit movie was a superhit and he was the solo hero..great start for a newcomer though Arjun had all ingredients for winning it and emerging a superstar..the movie was an absolute disaster and he didn't win because of that.

Arjun Rampal and Bipasha deserved those awards

Apart the year 2001, all other years Filmafare awards were super perfect!!!Always went to the perfect candidates....