During the Chetak Screen Awards 2026, as the evening unfolded with heartfelt speeches and the presentation of awards, stand-up comedian Zakir Khan took the stage to deliver his signature brand of humor, addressing uncomfortable truths in the entertainment industry. His performance featured witty jabs at various topics, including the notion of “manufactured” box office successes, streaming platform metrics, and the often-overlooked contributions of unpaid crew members. He also humorously commented on the industry’s response to the overwhelming success of the film Dhurandhar, which had the audience in stitches.
This year’s awards ceremony, hosted by a star-studded lineup including Alia Bhatt, Farah Khan, Sunil Grover, Zakir Khan, and Saurabh Dwivedi, marked a significant return after a seven-year break. Established by The Indian Express Group in 1995, the event was broadcast live on platforms such as SonyLIV, Sony Entertainment Television, and YouTube, featuring prominent figures like Vicky Kaushal, Karan Johar, and Bobby Deol.
In a light-hearted critique of the award culture and the film Dhurandhar’s success, Zakir shared, “I was standing with some technicians, and they were saying, ‘If all the awards are going to Dhurandhar anyway, why were we even invited?’ They were like, ‘Fine, we didn’t get paid this time, but at least we got an award.’”
He further elaborated on the peculiar phenomenon of “success parties” in Mumbai, stating, “After living in Mumbai for ten years, I’ve come across something quite interesting: success parties. These parties have nothing to do with the actual success of a film. Whether a film is a hit or not, it somehow manages to cross ₹300 crore. It’s solely up to me and my producer to declare a film a success, while even our caterer plays a role in that decision. I’ve seen half the crew hasn’t even watched the film, yet everyone is celebrating.”
Offering another amusing observation, Zakir remarked on the irony surrounding OTT platform content, saying, “I find the idea of success for OTT films particularly amusing. If a show performs well, the OTT manager might say, ‘It didn’t really do numbers.’ Yet, if a poorly received show receives harsh criticism, the response is, ‘No, it did numbers for us.’ Even if that show never gets renewed for a second season, the narrative persists — ‘it did numbers for us.’”
Zakir also addressed the underlying jealousy that accompanies Dhurandhar’s success, humorously noting, “No matter how many congratulatory posts you share or how often you claim in interviews that it’s your favorite film, the reality is, everyone is jealous of Dhurandhar. It’s like a bomb went off in Lyari, but the smoke can be seen from Bandra to Juhu.”
Additionally, he highlighted the stark contrast in the industry regarding payments, stating, “The most astonishing aspect is the payment issue. On one side, we have superstars demanding multiple vanity vans, with producers willing to accommodate them; on the other, a spot boy struggles just to receive his daily wage. This is the significant dichotomy of this city. What benefit is there in withholding a lightman’s payment while flaunting clothes by Manish Malhotra?”
As for the awards, Dhurandhar emerged as the standout winner, garnering 14 awards, including Best Actor (Male) for Ranveer Singh, Best Director for Aditya Dhar, and Best Supporting Actor (Male) for Akshaye Khanna, alongside several technical accolades. The film Haq, directed by Suparn Verma, secured Best Actor (Female) for Yami Gautam Dhar and was recognized for Best Film for Gender Sensitivity, while Homebound, helmed by Neeraj Ghaywan, took home several major awards including Best Film.
The Chetak Screen Awards, established by The Indian Express Group, are regarded as some of the most reputable film honors in India, grounded in principles of merit, integrity, and peer recognition. Selection of winners is conducted by the independent Screen Academy.
