'On What Criteria': Urvashi Questions Shah Rukh Khan's National Award; Actress Feels Vijayaraghavan Deserved Best Actor Award For Pookkaalam

On Friday, 71st National Film Awards were announced, and Shah Rukh Khan won his first National Award. The actor has been honoured with the Best Actor award for his performance in Jawan. However, South Indian actress Urvashi, who won the National Award for Best Supporting Actress for Ullozhukku (Malayalam), has questioned the jury about the criteria on which SRK was given the Best Actor award and Pookkaalam actor Vijayaraghavan was given the Best Supporting Actor award.

Duing an interview with Asianet News, Urvashi said, “Vijayaraghavan is such a great actor. What exactly did the jury consider to distinguish between Vijayaraghavan’s and Shah Rukh Khan’s performances? How did one become a supporting actor and the other the best actor? On what criteria? We should raise such questions, as we too are taxpaying citizens. Kutettan (referring to Vijayaraghavan) has decades of experience in cinema. The film wasn’t a big-budget, 250-day shoot kind of project like those in other languages.”

She further revealed that she was initially approached to star opposite Vijayaraghavan in Pookkaalam. But, she declined it as the role required her to undergo a significant physical transformation, and she had to sit for several hours to get the makeup done.

Urvashi added, "I told them, even if you pay me crores, I wouldn’t do it. But he, at his age, endured all of that and performed. That alone deserves at least a Special Mention. How is he only a supporting actor? On what basis was that decided? That’s all I’m asking — there must be some fairness.”

In Pookkaalam, Vijayaraghavan, who is 75 years old in real life, played the role of a 100-year-old man.

Shah Rukh Khan On Winning The National Award

After winning the National Award, SRK had posted a video on social media. He had captioned the video as, "Thank you for honouring me with the National Award. Thanks to the jury, the I&B ministry. Iss samman ke liye Bharat Sarkar ka dhanyawaad. Overwhelmed with the love showered upon me. Half a hug to everyone today…."