The announcement of Shah Rukh Khan winning the Best Actor National Award for Jawan was nothing short of a historic moment for his fans. Social media platforms exploded with celebratory posts, hashtags
trended for days, and congratulatory messages poured in for the superstar, marking his first-ever win at the prestigious ceremony. But amid the cheers, a section of cinephiles felt a tinge of disappointment. Many argued that Manoj Bajpayee’s powerhouse act in Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai was more deserving of the honour.
Now, Manoj himself has broken his silence on the comparisons being drawn between him and Shah Rukh Khan. Speaking to India Today, the veteran actor dismissed the chatter outright. “It is useless conversation because it is gone. When it comes to Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai, yes, it is a very special film in my filmography and so was Joram. They are going to be on top of my filmography. But I don’t discuss these things because it is a very loser conversation. It is in the past and it should be left alone,” he said.
Manoj on awards losing relevance
Manoj, who has himself been a recipient of the honour multiple times in the past, reflected on how the credibility of awards—including the National Awards—has been shifting. He said, “It’s not just about national awards. It’s about all the awards that were revered. They should seriously think about how they are operating. Because it is not about my respect, I take care of my respect very cautiously when I’m choosing a film and I’m very responsible to the actor that I am. But each and every organisation have to think of themselves, that’s not my job. If somebody else is losing their respect, they should think about it.”
For him, respect doesn’t come from trophies but from the integrity of choices. He stressed that while he values the recognition he has received over the years, he does not measure his craft by the number of awards on his shelf.
On the very idea of award shows
The actor further admitted that he has never believed in the concept of award shows in the first place. “I think for me, the idea of an award show is wrong,” Manoj said candidly. While he clarified that he does attend them out of courtesy and respect for organisers, he revealed that the trophies themselves hold little meaning in his day-to-day life. “It is just a piece of decoration in your house. Everyday you are not going to stand in front of it and say ‘wow, I got this’,” he remarked.
A tale of two careers
This year marked Shah Rukh Khan’s first National Award win for his performance in Atlee’s blockbuster Jawan, which not only ruled the box office but also showcased SRK in dual roles that won over audiences nationwide. Manoj, however, is no stranger to the honour—he bagged it for his breakout role in Satya (1998), followed by Pinjar in 2003, and later Aligarh in 2016.
While fans continue to debate over who deserved the award more, Manoj Bajpayee’s words are a reminder that for some actors, the true victory lies not in accolades but in the authenticity of their work.
