At the 70th Filmfare Awards, while “Laapataa Ladies” swept the technical categories with a record-breaking 13 awards, the acting categories saw Alia Bhatt take home the Best Actress award for her role in “Jigra.” This marks Alia’s sixth win in this prestigious category, establishing a new benchmark and surpassing the previous record held jointly by the iconic Nutan and Kajol, who each have five Best Actress Filmfare Awards.
While this achievement is a significant milestone in Alia Bhatt’s career, it has also become a focal point of discussion on social media. Many users are debating the legitimacy of some of her wins, with comments on platforms like Reddit reflecting a divide in opinion. Some express surprise that despite previous criticisms, the award went to Alia again, especially for a performance they felt wasn’t universally acclaimed. Others feel the recognition is disrespectful to past actresses who may have had equally impactful, yet less-awarded, performances.
Comparisons have been drawn to actresses like Waheeda Rahman, Sridevi, and Madhuri Dixit, whose iconic status in popular culture is undisputed. The debate highlights a broader conversation about award recognitions and the subjective nature of artistic appreciation.
Alia Bhatt’s Filmfare journey includes previous wins for “Udta Punjab,” “Raazi,” “Gully Boy,” “Gangubai Kathiawadi,” and “Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani.” This is her third consecutive win in the Best Actress category.
The record for the most Best Actress wins was previously held by Meena Kumari, who secured her fourth win in 1966 for “Kaajal.” Nutan later broke this record with her fifth win in 1979 for “Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki,” a feat that Kajol matched in 2011 for “My Name Is Khan.”
Vidya Balan and Madhuri Dixit have each won four Best Actress Filmfare Awards, while Vyjayanthimala, Jaya Bachchan, and Shabana Azmi have three wins each.
Alia’s Filmfare-winning performance this year was in “Jigra,” directed by Vasan Bala, which also starred Vedang Raina. Despite receiving positive reviews for her portrayal of a sister undertaking a daring jailbreak, the film did not perform exceptionally at the box office, grossing ₹55 crore worldwide against a budget of ₹80 crore.
Looking ahead, Alia Bhatt is set to appear in the YRF Spy Universe film, also titled “Jigra,” and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s “Love & War.”