The 2026 Chetak Screen Awards showcased the remarkable success of the Bollywood film “Dhurandhar,” which took home 14 awards, including prestigious honors such as Best Actor (Male) for Ranveer Singh, Best Director for Aditya Dhar, and Best Supporting Actor (Male) for Akshaye Khanna. The ceremony, held on Sunday, celebrated the film’s achievements in various technical categories, earning accolades for editing, sound design, special effects, cinematography, production design, background score, action, hairstyling, and makeup. Notably, “Dhurandhar” shared the Best Costume award with the hit film “Chhaava.”
In another highlight of the evening, the film “Haq,” directed by Suparn Verma and centered on the historic Shah Bano case, was recognized with the Best Actor (Female) award for Yami Gautam Dhar’s performance, as well as the Best Film award for Gender Sensitivity.
Neeraj Ghaywan’s “Homebound,” inspired by true events of friendship and tragedy during the Covid lockdown, also received significant accolades, including Best Film. The entire cast and crew, including Ghaywan, lead actors Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa, producer Karan Johar, and Adar Poonawala, were present to accept the award. Khatter dedicated the honor to those who advocate for their identity, emphasizing the film’s mission to amplify the voices of the marginalized. The award was presented by Nita Mukesh Ambani, Chairperson of the Reliance Foundation, alongside Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Additionally, “Homebound” was awarded Best Film Writing, Story, and Screenplay, with the honor shared among Basharat Peer, Ghaywan, and Sumit Roy. The film also secured the Best Supporting Actor (Female) award for Shalini Vatsa.
After a seven-year hiatus, the awards, established by The Indian Express Group in 1995, were hosted by actress Alia Bhatt, complemented by actor-comedian Sunil Grover, stand-up comedian Zakir Khan, and Saurabh Dwivedi, Editor-Hindi at The Indian Express. The ceremony was streamed live on platforms including SonyLIV, Sony Entertainment Television, and YouTube, creating a memorable evening that celebrated a mix of blockbuster hits, impactful films, and a tribute to a film legend who passed away last year.
The Lifetime Achievement Award was awarded posthumously to Dharmendra, with Javed Akhtar presenting the honor alongside Chief Minister Fadnavis and filmmaker Ramesh Sippy. Akhtar reminisced about his encounter with Dharmendra in 1965, highlighting the actor’s warmth and humility. Bobby Deol accepted the award on behalf of his father, expressing heartfelt gratitude and reflecting on the profound impact Dharmendra had on audiences through his work.
In the OTT category, the series “Stolen,” which follows two brothers in the search for a kidnapped baby, won four out of five awards, including Best Film (Karan Tejpal) and Best Actor (Abhishek Banerjee). Sanya Malhotra was recognized as Best OTT Actor (Female) for her role in “Mrs.,” a remake of the Malayalam film “The Great Indian Kitchen.”
Musical accolades went to Mohit Suri’s “Saiyaara,” with Faheem Abdullah and Shreya Ghoshal winning Best Playback Singer (Male and Female, respectively) for the film’s title track, which was also awarded Best Song. The lead actors of the film, Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, were recognized as Breakthrough Debut Male and Female.
The special ‘Screen’s Cinema of Courage Award’ was presented to “Sitaare Zameen Par,” a sports dramedy by R S Prasanna, which tells the story of a self-absorbed basketball coach training a team of young adults with Down’s Syndrome. The award was presented by Karan Johar and Siddharth Roy Kapur.
The evening included a tribute to industry figures who passed away in the last year, with a moving video segment honoring Dharmendra, Achyut Potdar, Asrani, and others. The audience stood in remembrance of these individuals.
The event featured performances by Badshah and a musical segment by Shahzad Ali, who sang tracks from “Dhurandhar,” accompanied by Siddhant Chaturvedi.
Anant Goenka, Executive Director of The Indian Express Group, expressed gratitude to actor Vicky Kaushal for maintaining the secrecy of the awards and thanked all nominees for their attendance despite the uncertainty of winning.
The nominees and winners across the 31 categories were chosen by the Screen Academy, an independent body composed of over 50 prominent filmmakers and artists. This academy not only conducts the voting but also upholds the standards that maintain the integrity and future of the Screen Awards.
