The Chetak Screen Awards 2026 celebrated a significant achievement when Karan Tejpal was honored with the Best Director (OTT Film) award for his work on “Stolen.” He triumphed over fellow nominees including Arati Kadav for “Mrs,” Honey Trehan for “Raat Akeli Hai – The Bansal Murders,” Anusha Rizvi for “The Great Shamsuddin Family,” and Boman Irani for “The Mehta Boys.”
The award was presented to Tejpal by notable filmmaker Shoojit Sircar.
As direct-to-OTT films gain traction and recognition comparable to that of traditional theatrical releases, the Chetak Screen Awards 2026 unveiled five new categories. These include Best OTT Film, Best Director (OTT Film), Best Actor – Female (OTT Film), Best Actor – Male (OTT Film), and Best Script (OTT Film).
The ceremony was hosted by prominent figures including Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt, comedians Zakir Khan and Sunil Grover, along with distinguished journalist Saurabh Dwivedi, who serves as the Editor for Hindi at The Indian Express.
Regarded as one of India’s most esteemed film awards, the Chetak Screen Awards emphasize the importance of recognizing artistic merit, integrity, and respect among peers. To uphold these principles, an independent and non-profit entity known as the Screen Academy was established, consisting of 53 respected filmmakers, artists, and cultural figures. This Academy was responsible for nominating and selecting the winners through a meticulous and thorough process.
Initially, films were shortlisted by the Academy, which then assessed them through a structured voting system. Dr. Priya Jaikumar, a Chair of Cinema and Media Studies at the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts and a scholar-in-residence at the Screen Academy, devised comprehensive grading criteria that members adhered to during evaluations.
The evaluation criteria focused on aspects such as creativity, overall viewer experience, technical quality, audience engagement, and innovation. Performance categories were also judged on authenticity. This rigorous approach ensured that the Chetak Screen Awards 2026 stood out as a more credible and genuine award ceremony.
Notable members of the Screen Academy include renowned figures like Shoojit Sircar, Deepa Mehta, Sriram Raghavan, Ram Madhvani, Guneet Monga Kapoor, John Abraham, Kabir Khan, Karan Johar, Mukesh Chhabra, Payal Kapadia, Prosenjit Chatterjee, RS Prasanna, Rajiv Menon, Rajkumar Hirani, Resul Pookutty, Rima Das, and Vidya Balan, among others.
Viewers can catch the Chetak Screen Awards 2026 live on platforms such as YouTube, Sony Entertainment Television, and Sony LIV.
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