72nd National Film Awards: Yami Gautam Dhar wins Best Actress for 'Article 370'
Synopsis
Yami Gautam Dhar's debut National Award crowns a career pivot — from mainstream commercial films to headline-grabbing political cinema. Her Best Actress win for 'Article 370', which also swept Best Feature Film, signals how films engaging with contemporary political history are finding favour with the jury. A double sweep that few predicted entering awards season.
Key Takeaways
Yami Gautam Dhar won Best Actress at the 72nd National Film Awards for her role in 'Article 370' . 'Article 370' also won Best Feature Film , making it a double winner on the night.
Mammootty ('Bramayugam') and Kartik Aaryan ('Chandu Champion') shared the Best Actor award.
Rajkumar Periasamy won Best Direction for 'Amaran' ; Randeep Hooda won Best Debut Director for 'Swatantrya Veer Savarkar' . 'Kalki 2898 AD' won Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment .
The awards, honouring films from 2024 , were presented by President Droupadi Murmu on 22 September 2026 in Kevadia, Gujarat .
Actress Yami Gautam Dhar received the Best Actress honour at the 72nd National Film Awards on 22 September 2026 in Kevadia, Gujarat, for her performance in 'Article 370'. President Droupadi Murmu conferred the award at a ceremony that recognised the best of Indian cinema from 2024.
A Newcomer's Energy After Years of Work
Speaking at the ceremony, Gautam Dhar described the honour as the most significant validation of her career. “This is the biggest validation that any artiste in this country could receive. It’s the highest honour. I don’t think I’ll be able to express how I am feeling right now,” she said. Despite years in the industry, she noted that the award had reawakened a sense of wonder in her. “I am still trying to soak in and smile but from inside, I could feel that energy of an absolute newcomer for whom everything is so big, new and so special,” she added.
The actress walked the red carpet alongside her husband and filmmaker Aditya Dhar. She credited the film with unlocking a new dimension of her craft. “'Article 370' gave me so much as an artiste and as an actor. It gave me everything that I have been wanting to do for the longest time. Years of hard work often trickles down to one moment and for me that was 'Article 370',” she said.
About 'Article 370' and Its Awards Sweep
The film, which chronicles the planning and aftermath of the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution of India, also won the Best Feature Film award at the ceremony — making it a double winner on the night. The political thriller drew significant attention upon its release for its dramatisation of a pivotal moment in contemporary Indian history.
Other Key Winners at the 72nd National Film Awards
Malayalam cinema legend Mammootty was honoured with the Best Actor award for his work in 'Bramayugam', sharing the honour with Bollywood actor Kartik Aaryan, who was recognised for his role in the sports biopic 'Chandu Champion'. Rajkumar Periasamy won Best Direction for 'Amaran', while Randeep Hooda received the Best Debut Director award for 'Swatantrya Veer Savarkar'. The pan-India epic 'Kalki 2898 AD' took home the award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment.
Ceremony and Context
The 72nd National Film Awards, honouring films released in 2024, were presented at Kevadia, Gujarat — a venue that has emerged as a preferred location for national-scale official events in recent years. The National Film Awards remain the most prestigious state recognition of cinematic excellence in India, with the President's conferral adding constitutional weight to the honours. For Yami Gautam Dhar, this first National Award caps a career that began with commercial fare and has progressively moved toward roles of greater socio-political weight.
Point of View
And 'Article 370' gave her the vehicle she needed. The film's double sweep (Best Feature Film and Best Actress) signals that the jury rewarded politically engaged cinema that dramatises recent constitutional events — a choice that will not be without its own discourse. Notably, the Best Actor split between Mammootty and Kartik Aaryan bridges Malayalam and Hindi cinema in a single honour, reflecting the jury's pan-India lens. Whether this edition's choices accelerate the trend of mainstream Hindi actors pivoting to issue-based films remains the more interesting longer-term question.
NationPress
22 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won Best Actress at the 72nd National Film Awards?
Yami Gautam Dhar won the Best Actress award at the 72nd National Film Awards for her performance in 'Article 370'. The award was conferred by President Droupadi Murmu on 22 September 2026 in Kevadia, Gujarat.
What is the film 'Article 370' about?
'Article 370' presents a dramatised account of the planning and aftermath of the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution of India. The film won both Best Feature Film and Best Actress at the 72nd National Film Awards.
Who won Best Actor at the 72nd National Film Awards?
The Best Actor award was shared by Mammootty for 'Bramayugam' and Kartik Aaryan for the sports biopic 'Chandu Champion'. Both actors were recognised for their lead performances in films from 2024.
Where and when were the 72nd National Film Awards held?
The 72nd National Film Awards were held on 22 September 2026 in Kevadia, Gujarat. President Droupadi Murmu presided over the ceremony, which honoured Indian films from the year 2024.
Which other films won major awards at the 72nd National Film Awards?
'Amaran' won Best Direction (Rajkumar Periasamy), 'Swatantrya Veer Savarkar' earned Randeep Hooda the Best Debut Director award, and 'Kalki 2898 AD' won Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment.
