Sanya Malhotra on Netflix's 'Kathal', Shah Rukh Khan's 'Jawan' & Sam Bahadur's National Award win — 'I had to take a moment and...'

Sanya Malhotra is riding high on a rare and remarkable achievement, three of her films which are Jawan, Kathal, and Sam Bahadur, have all bagged top honours at the 71st National Film Awards. For the actor, the moment is both overwhelming and deeply affirming.

In conversation with a leading publication, Sanya Malhotra said, “You know when I found out that all three were being honored with National Awards I had to take a moment. It’s rare, and I don’t take it for granted at all. It really makes me reflect on how important it is to trust your gut. As an actor, you don’t always know how a project will be received, you just go by what moves you, what excites you. And this has just reaffirmed that instinct for me in the most beautiful way.”

The wins span across categories, ‘Kathal’ clinched the award for Best Hindi Feature Film, Shah Rukh Khan was honoured with Best Actor for Jawan, and Sam Bahadur walked away with multiple honours including Best Feature Film Promoting National, Social, and Environmental Values, Best Makeup, and Best Costume Design.

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Leading Kathal has been particularly special for Sanya Malhotra. “Honestly it still hasn’t sunk in fully. Kathal winning the National Award for Best Hindi Feature Film is just… surreal. To be the face of a film like this that started as such an unusual, quirky story and to see it reach this kind of recognition, it’s overwhelming. I’m so proud of the entire team, and I feel incredibly grateful to have been a part of this journey,” she shared.

On whether awards hold significant weight in her career, Sanya reflected, “I think awards can’t define your worth as an artist but they definitely feel good especially when they come from a place of genuine appreciation. The National Award is just… different. It holds a very special place. It feels like the country acknowledging your work and that’s a big, big deal. It’s emotional. It’s humbling.”

With three National Award-winning films in a single year, Sanya Malhotra’s instinct-driven choices have clearly struck gold, and the recognition only fuels her passion for storytelling. She will soon be seen in Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari and in Bandar, which will premiere at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2025, along with another global action-comedy film slated to go on floors later this year.