Yami Gautam Wins First National Award for 'Article 370' as Proud Husband Aditya Dhar Cheers On
In a poignant and defining triumph for her cinematic career, actress Yami Gautam was bestowed with the coveted Best Actress trophy at the prestigious 72nd National Film Awards on Tuesday evening, September 22, 2026. Held in the grand ceremonial setting of Ekta Nagar (Kevadia), Gujarat, the awards celebrated the finest achievements in Indian cinema from the calendar year 2024. Gautam was honored for her intense, nuanced, and authoritative performance as an intelligence operative in the high-stakes political drama Article 370, which also clinched the National Award for Best Feature Film. Sharing the limelight in a deeply heartfelt moment, her filmmaker husband Aditya Dhar was present in the audience, beaming with unbridled joy and enthusiastically applauding as his wife walked up to the podium to receive the country's highest cinematic accolade.
Emotional Address in Kevadia: A Dedicated Tribute to Outsiders Battling for Their Dreams
Exuding grace at the red carpet ceremony, the couple arrived in color-coordinated ethnic attire, with Aditya Dhar donning a regal black bandhgala suit and Yami wearing an elegant black saree adorned with intricate golden borders. Speaking to journalists post-felicitation, an emotional Gautam stated that she is still internalizing the magnitude of the honor, dedicating the national recognition to every aspiring talent who lands in Mumbai with big dreams and zero industry connections. Underlining the virtue of relentless perseverance, she observed that destiny eventually rewards honest and diligent toil, noting that while an artist's artistic path remains unpredictable, receiving an official validation of this stature provides an unparalleled sense of personal and professional pride.
Historic 72nd National Awards: Mammootty and Kartik Aaryan Share Best Actor Laurels
The 72nd National Film Awards witnessed celebrated milestones across multiple regional film industries. While Article 370 dominated mainstream discussions with its double national honors, the Best Actor category saw a rare and historic shared victory between two generational talents. Veteran Malayalam superstar Mammootty took home the National Award for his haunting portrayal in the period horror masterpiece Brahmayugam, sharing the supreme acting laurel with Bollywood star Kartik Aaryan, who earned his maiden National Award for his physical and emotional tour-de-force in the sports biopic Chandu Champion. The star-studded assembly underscored a landmark evening celebrating merit, artistic versatility, and cinematic excellence across the length and breadth of Indian cinema.

