Amitabh Bachchan won the best actor award for playing a hypochondriac father in Piku , while Kangana Ranaut scored her second consecutive best actress honour at the 63rd National Film Awards, where Hindi films won in major categories barring the top prize that went to Baahubali .
This is 73-year-old Bachchan’s fourth National award. He previously won the honour in 1990 for Agneepath , for Black in 2005 and for Paa in 2009.
Ranaut, 28, won the award for her role in romantic comedy drama Tanu Weds Manu Returns for her endearing dual turn as Tanu, a troublesome wife and Haryanvi sportsperson Datto. It is her third trophy at the National Awards, having earlier won best supporting actress for Fashion and best actress Queen last year.
The first part of SS Rajamouli’s magnum opus Baahubali was announced as a surprise best feature film winner, even as last year’s much appreciated Masaan had to contend itself with just a best debut director award for Neeraj Ghaywan.
Sharat Katariya’s debut Dum Laga Ke Haisha , a ‘90s set drama in Haridwar about the romance between a mismatched couple, was named the best Hindi film.
Sweeping historical romance Bajirao Mastani helped its director Sanjay Leela Bhansali win the best director honour.
Salman Khan-starrer cross-border drama Bajrangi Bhaijaan was named best popular film providing wholesome entertainment.
Best adapted screenplay honour went to Vishal Bhardwaj for real-life inspired crime drama Talvar , while the best original screenplay and dialouge was shared between Juhi Chaturvedi ( Piku ) and Himanshu Sharma ( Tanu Weds Manu Returns ).