The 72nd National Film Awards proved to be a significant occasion for filmmaker Aditya Dhar and actor Yami Gautam, with their film Article 370 emerging as one of the major winners. The film won Best Feature Film, while Yami was honoured with Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance. The awards recognised films from the 2024 eligibility cycle, with the winners being honoured at the ceremony in 2026.Yami, who was present at the ceremony alongside Dhar, described the National Award as the highest form of recognition an artist can receive from the country. Meanwhile, when Dhar was asked about his much-discussed Dhurandhar franchise, the filmmaker offered a brief but intriguing response.
Yami Gautam says National Award is the ‘biggest validation’ for an artist
Speaking at the 72nd National Film Awards, Yami Gautam admitted that she was still processing the significance of the honour.“It feels great. This is the biggest validation for any artist. It is the highest honour presented to you by your country. I am trying to still soak it in,” Yami said.The actress also reflected on how ‘Article 370’ impacted her creatively. Despite her years in the industry, she said working on the film brought back the enthusiasm and energy of someone experiencing everything for the first time.“Article 370 gave me so much as an artist, as an actor. The energy is of an absolute newcomer for whom everything is new,” she added.Yami’s acting honour came alongside the film’s Best Feature Film win, making the ceremony particularly memorable for the actor-filmmaker couple.
Aditya Dhar teases ‘Dhurandhar’ with ‘hopefully next year’ remark
While the focus of the evening was firmly on Article 370, Aditya Dhar was inevitably asked about Dhurandhar, the action franchise he directed.Keeping his response brief, Dhar said, “We are here for Article 370 and discuss about Dhurandhar hopefully next year.”
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About Aditya Dhar’s ‘Dhurandhar’ franchise
Aditya Dhar’s ‘Dhurandhar’ stars Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, R. Madhavan and Sanjay Dutt. The franchise comprises two films, with the first instalment releasing on December 5, 2025, followed by its sequel on March 19, 2026. According to Sacnilk, the two-film franchise has emerged as a major box-office success, with the combined gross reported at around Rs 3,000 crore.
