Director Karan Johar was overwhelmed with thanks after receiving the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment for his 2023 hit Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani on Tuesday, September 23.
The award-winning director-producer of all-time classic films such as Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kal Ho Naa Ho, and My Name is Khan was awarded the coveted honour by President Droupadi Murmu.
Apoorva Mehta, his co-worker at Dharma Productions, was also awarded. On the evening of the event, Karan posted a series of photos taken at the function on Instagram, among which one with Rani Mukerji, who received the Best Actress award at the 71st National Film Awards.
He wrote in the caption, "So humbled and honoured to win the most POPULAR FILM PROVIDING WHOLESOME ENTERTAINMENT at the NATIONAL AWARDS @mib_india #71stnationalfilmawards .. Apoorva @apoorva1972 and I are deeply grateful to our entire family @dharmamovies for being our soul and spine….So emotional to win in the same year as Rani and Bhai @iamsrk ( missed taking a photo with him )…”
Karan also thanked the lead actors of the film, Alia Bhatt and Ranveer Singh, and said, "Karan Johar this side and I am a fragile today… thanks to the love and recognition,"
This is Karan's third national award in a row and his fourth one overall, a circle of completion, as he had already been nominated in the same category for his directorial debut, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.
Industry friends overflowed the comment section with congratulatory posts, such as Shabana Azmi, Zoya Akhtar, Alia Bhatt, Manish Malhotra, Bhavana Panday, Tahira Kashyap, Shweta Bachchan, and Neha Dhupia.
"This is my third national award in a row. In 2021, we got it for 'Shershaah' and in 2022, we got best VFX for Brahmastra and most wholesome and popular entertainer of the year (award) this year. There’s a lot of energy, excitement and inspiration in my heart right now and a lot of gratitude,” he told Doordarshan at the National Awards red carpet.
He further added, "Whenever we get a national award, I feel like I have done something right to win over hearts, the audience, the jury and to reach this stage. A lot of respect and gratitude to the jury."
Karan Johar's past awards include the Special Jury Award for Shershaah in 2021 and the Special Award for Best VFX for Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva in 2022. This year, he again marked another milestone in the award for Most Wholesome and Popular Entertainer of the Year for Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, which was produced under his banner, Dharma Productions.
Read also| Watch | Parineeti Chopra Shows Off Her Baby Bump Publicly for the First Time
