‘Dhurandhar’ Dominates Chetak Screen Awards 2026 with 14 Wins

Dhurandhar emerged as the biggest winner at the Chetak Screen Awards 2026, securing a total of 14 trophies at the ceremony held in Mumbai on April 5.

The spy thriller, directed by Aditya Dhar, won top honours including Best Director, while Ranveer Singh took home Best Actor (Male). Akshaye Khanna was awarded Best Supporting Actor (Male) for his performance in the film.

The film’s dominance extended across technical categories, underlining its strong craft credentials.

Technical Excellence Drives Big Wins

‘Dhurandhar’ swept multiple technical awards, including cinematography, editing, sound design, production design, background score, action, hairstyling, make-up, and special effects. It also shared the Best Costume award with Chhaava.

The wins reflect the Screen Academy’s emphasis on technical precision and storytelling craft, with the film standing out for its high production values.

‘Homebound’ Wins Best Film

While ‘Dhurandhar’ dominated the awards tally, Best Film went to Homebound, directed by Neeraj Ghaywan.

Backed by Karan Johar, the film also won Best Film Writing (Story and Screenplay), shared by Basharat Peer, Ghaywan, and Sumit Roy. Shalini Vatsa received Best Supporting Actor (Female) for her role.

Lead actor Ishaan Khatter, who accepted the award along with co-star Vishal Jethwa, dedicated the win to “those who fight every day for their identity,” calling the film an effort to give voice to the voiceless.

Yami Gautam Wins for ‘Haq’

Haq, directed by Suparn Verma, also secured major recognition. Yami Gautam Dhar won Best Actor (Female) for her portrayal of Shah Bano, while the film was honoured for its focus on gender sensitivity.

OTT and Music Categories See Diverse Winners

In the OTT segment, Stolen emerged as a major winner, taking home Best Film along with awards for Best Actor (Abhishek Banerjee) and Best Script.

Sanya Malhotra won Best Actor (Female) in the OTT category for her performance in Mrs., a remake of The Great Indian Kitchen.

In music, Saiyaara dominated. Shreya Ghoshal and Faheem Abdullah won Best Playback Singer (Female and Male), while the title track was awarded Best Song.

Ceremony Highlights and Tributes

The ceremony marked the return of the Screen Awards after a seven-year hiatus. It was hosted by Alia Bhatt, Sunil Grover, Zakir Khan, and Saurabh Dwivedi.

A major highlight of the evening was the posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Dharmendra. The honour was received by Bobby Deol, who delivered an emotional tribute to his father.

Veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar recalled his early interactions with Dharmendra, describing him as a blend of dignity, humility, and warmth.

Special Recognition and Performances

Sitaare Zameen Par received the ‘Screen’s Cinema of Courage Award’, presented by Karan Johar and Siddharth Roy Kapur.

The evening also featured performances by Badshah, while Shahzad Ali performed songs from ‘Dhurandhar’, accompanied by a live act composed by Ranjit Barot, with Siddhant Chaturvedi joining on stage.

Awards Backed by Industry Jury

The winners were selected by the Screen Academy, an independent body comprising over 50 filmmakers, technicians, and artists. Unlike popular choice awards, the honours were based purely on merit and peer evaluation, with a focus on storytelling and technical excellence.