71st National Film Awards 2025: Rani Mukerji wins her first National Film Award for Best Actress for Mrs Chatterjee v/s Norway

71st National Film Awards: Rani Mukerji has bagged the Best Actress in a leading role for her Powerful performance in the 2023 film Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway. The actor is the sole honouree in the category. The winners were decided by the prestigious panel of juries, and the final report was submitted to Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and L. Murugan. The official announcement was made by filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker, who was also a part of a panel.

The 71st National Awards were finally announced on Friday, August 1, at the National Media Centre in New Delhi.

Rani Mukerji won the Best Actress award 

Rani Mukerji won the best actress award for giving a heart-touching performance for portraying a mother fighting for her children. The film, directed by Ashma Chibber, also starred Bengali actor Anirban Bhattacharya, Neena Gupta, and Jim Sarbh.

Other winners

Apart from Rani Mukerji, Shah Rukh Khan and Vikrant Massey received their first National Awards for Jawan and 12th Fail respectively. 12th Fail also won the National Award for Best Feature Film.

Meanwhile, Vicky Kaushal’s Sam Bahadur won several categories, including Best Makeup, Best Costume and Best Feature Film Promoting National, Social and Environmental Values. Karan Johar’s Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani won for Best Choreography. Adah Sharma’s The Kerala Story, Sanya Malhotra’s Kathal, Teja Sajja’s Hanu-Man and Ranbir Kapoor’s Animal also received prominent mentions in multiple categories.

About Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway

In Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway, a film based on a real-life custody battle. Rani Mukerji portrays a character of an emotional mother named Debika Chatterjee, who struggles to bring her children back from Norway.