After over three decades at the pinnacle of Hindi cinema, Shah Rukh Khan has finally clinched a National Film Award for Best Actor — a first in his storied career. His win for Jawan at the 71st National Film Awards marks not only a personal milestone but also a long-awaited recognition of his craft by India’s most prestigious film honors.
While fans celebrated the moment, many couldn’t help but revisit the one role that they believe should have earned him the accolade years ago — his powerful performance in Ashutosh Gowariker’s Swades (2004).
When Shah Rukh Khan Openly Addressed His National Award ‘Snub’
A resurfaced video from a late-2000s Tag Heuer event captures Shah Rukh cheekily acknowledging the missed opportunity. Sharing the stage with filmmaker Kunal Kohli and anchor Mandira Bedi, SRK responds to a question about his favorite films:
“See, main dil ka bahut acha hoon. Saari filmein achi lagti hain, saare hero ache lagte hain… I like everything,” he jokes, before adding with a grin, “Fanaa was very good. I think Hum Tum was very nice. His actor won the National Award for Hum Tum, when I think I should have got it. But that’s another story.”
While the comment was lighthearted, fans read it as a rare moment of candid honesty from the superstar.
The 2004 Debate: Swades vs Hum Tum
Many cinephiles still argue that Swades was one of Shah Rukh’s most restrained and heartfelt performances, portraying NASA engineer Mohan Bhargava’s journey of rediscovering India. However, the Best Actor award that year went to Saif Ali Khan for his romantic-comedy role in Hum Tum — a decision that continues to draw scrutiny.
“I like Hum Tum, but there’s no comparison to what SRK did in Swades. He poured his soul into that role,” read one viral Reddit comment after the old video surfaced.
Another fan noted, “He deserved the National Award for Swades. It was a role ahead of its time and was probably too subtle for the jury then.”
Why SRK May Have Missed Out
Some fans pointed to the composition of the National Award jury that year. One Redditor shared, “TS Nagabharana, a jury member in 2005, apparently dismissed Swades, claiming it resembled his own earlier film. That may have cost Shah Rukh the win.”
The commercial underperformance of Swades at the time may have also played a role in sidelining its awards potential — a decision many now view as a misstep.
Could a Win for Swades Have Changed His Career Choices?
Fans continue to speculate how recognition for Swades might have influenced Shah Rukh’s trajectory. The film’s box office failure reportedly led him to double down on more commercial ventures rather than further experiments in realism.
“A National Award back then might have encouraged him to do more meaningful cinema. Maybe we’d have seen another Swades-like gem,” one fan remarked.
A Poetic Full Circle: The 71st National Film Awards
At the 71st National Film Awards, Shah Rukh shared the Best Actor title with Vikrant Massey for 12th Fail, which also won Best Film. Rani Mukerji bagged Best Actress for Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway.
In an emotional video posted later that night, Shah Rukh thanked his director Atlee, his fans, team, and family.
“The National Award is not just about achievement. It’s a reminder that what I do matters… It’s a responsibility to show truth on screen. I promise to use this not as a finish line, but as fuel to keep going,” he said.
The Final Word
While the wait was long, Shah Rukh Khan’s first National Award arrives as a powerful testament to his continued relevance and growth. For many fans, it also brings a sense of closure — not just for Jawan, but perhaps also for the Swades that could have been.
