The 70th edition of the Filmfare Awards lit up the EKA Arena in Ahmedabad over the weekend, blending the glitz of Bollywood with moments of nostalgia and artistic achievement. The spotlight shone on “Laapataa Ladies,” which dominated the event with an impressive 13 wins, including Best Film and Best Director for Kiran Rao, matching the record set by “Gully Boy.”
The star-studded gala, hosted by Shah Rukh Khan, Karan Johar, and Maniesh Paul, wowed the audience with performances by Shah Rukh, Kriti Sanon, and Kajol, honoring both seasoned veterans and emerging talents shaping the landscape of Hindi cinema.
Abhishek Bachchan and Kartik Aaryan jointly took home the Best Actor (Male) award. Bachchan was recognized for his moving portrayal in Shoojit Sircar’s introspective drama “I Want To Talk,” while Aaryan impressed with his role as boxing champion Murlikant Petkar in “Chandu Champion.” Alia Bhatt clinched the Best Actress (Female) title for her powerful performance in “Jigra,” embodying a character grappling with guilt, sisterhood, and redemption.
The Critics’ Choice Awards highlighted the richness of independent cinema this year. Rajkummar Rao won Best Actor (Male) for his nuanced performance in “Srikanth,” portraying visually impaired entrepreneur Srikanth Bolla, while Pratibha Ranta was awarded Best Actor (Female) for her captivating debut in “Laapataa Ladies,” playing a runaway bride on a journey of self-discovery.
In supporting roles, Ravi Kishan and Chhaya Kadam, both from “Laapataa Ladies,” delivered poignant performances, adding depth to the film’s ensemble narrative.
The 2025 Filmfare Awards not only celebrated cinematic excellence but also underscored Bollywood’s evolving landscape, showcasing socially relevant narratives, authentic acting, and emerging directorial talents such as Kiran Rao, Shoojit Sircar, and Aditya Suhas Jambhale who are reshaping Indian cinema.
For the complete list of winners at the Filmfare Awards 2025:
Best Film: “Laapataa Ladies”
Best Director: Kiran Rao (“Laapataa Ladies”)
Best Actor in a Leading Role (Male): Abhishek Bachchan (“I Want To Talk”) and Kartik Aaryan (“Chandu Champion”)
Best Actor in a Leading Role (Female): Alia Bhatt (“Jigra”)
Critics’ Awards:
Best Actor (Male): Rajkummar Rao (“Srikanth”)
Best Actor (Female): Pratibha Ranta (“Laapataa Ladies”)
Best Film: Shoojit Sircar (“I Want To Talk”)
Supporting Roles:
Best Supporting Actor (Male): Ravi Kishan (“Laapataa Ladies”)
Best Supporting Actor (Female): Chhaya Kadam (“Laapataa Ladies”)
Debut Awards:
Best Debut Actor (Male): Lakshya (“Kill”)
Best Debut Actor (Female): Nitanshi Goel (“Laapataa Ladies”)
Best Debut Director: Kunal Kemmu (“Madgaon Express”), Aditya Suhas Jambhale (“Article 370”)
Technical Awards:
Best Screenplay: Sneha Desai (“Laapataa Ladies”)
Best Story: Aditya Dhar and Monal Thakkar (“Article 370”)
Best Dialogue: Sneha Desai (“Laapataa Ladies”)
Best Adapted Screenplay: Ritesh Shah and Tushar Sheetal Jain (“I Want To Talk”)
Best Cinematography: Rafey Mehmood (“Kill”)
Best Editing: Shivkumar V. Panicker (“Kill”)
Best Production Design: Mayur Sharma (“Kill”)
Best Costume Design: Darshan Jalan (“Laapataa Ladies”)
Best Sound Design: Subash Sahoo (“Kill”)
Best VFX: Redefine (“Munjya”)
Best Choreography: Bosco–Caesar (“Tauba Tauba” from “Bad Newz”)
Music Awards:
Best Music Album: Ram Sampath (“Laapataa Ladies”)
Best Background Score: Ram Sampath (“Laapataa Ladies”)
Best Lyrics: Prashant Pandey (“Laapataa Ladies”)
Best Playback Singer (Male): Arijit Singh (“Laapataa Ladies”)
Best Playback Singer (Female): Madhubanti Bagchi (“Stree 2”)
Action & Technical Excellence:
Best Action: Seayoung Oh and Parvez Shaikh (“Kill”)
Special Awards:
Lifetime Achievement Award: Zeenat Aman and Shyam Benegal (Posthumously)
RD Burman Award for Upcoming Talent in Music: Achint Thakkar (“Jigra”, “Mr &