February 22, 2021: The award season 2021 continues as Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival Awards honoured the best in film, television, music and the new addition, OTT on Saturday.

From Deepika Padukone, Akshay Kumar and Sushmita Sen to Surbhi Chandna and Nora Fatehi, celebrated artistes took home awards for their work last year.

Deepika won the best actor (female) award for her performance in Meghna Gulzar’s Chhapaak that told the story of acid attack survivor Laxmi Aggarwal. Her co-star Vikrant Massey bagged the honour of best actor in a supporting role for his turn in the critically-acclaimed drama, penned by Atika Chohan.

Akshay Kumar was declared best actor (male) in the horror-comedy Laxmii, which was a remake of hit Tamil film Kanchana (2011).

Kiara Advani won for her performance in the Netflix film Guilty. Guilty was directed by Ruchi Narain and produced by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions.

Nora Fatehi, who has consistently wowed the audience with her dance moves, was awarded the best performer at the ceremony. Overjoyed at the recognition, Nora wrote on Instagram that the award made “all the bleeding knees, back injuries, bruises,cuts, sleepless nights were all worth it.”

Sushant Singh Rajput, who died last year, was conferred the critic’s best actor (male) posthumously for his outstanding contribution to Hindi cinema. Sushant’s last film was Nitesh Tiwari’s hit friendship drama Chhichhore, in 2019.

The best film honour went to Ajay Devgn-Saif Ali Khan starrer Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, which also ended up becoming the highest box-office grosser of 2020. Co-starring Kajol, the period film was directed by debutante Om Raut and produced by T-Series.

Anurag Basu was honoured as the best director for his black comedy, Ludo, featuring an ensemble cast, including Abhishek Bachchan, Sanya Malhotra, Rajkummar Rao and Fatima Sana Shaikh.

Surbhi Chandna and Dheeraj Dhoopar took home the best actor (female) and (male) awards for their stellar work on the small screen. Dheeraj’s Kundali Bhagya won the best television show honour.

Director Hansal Mehta’s blockbuster show Scam 1992, starring Pratik Gandhi as the infamous stockbroker Harshad Mehta, unsurprisingly received the best series award.

Sushmita Sen bagged the trophy for best actor in a web-series (female) for her stunning performance in Disney Plus Hotstar show Arya. While Bobby Deol was declared the best actor in a web-series (male) for Ashram, directed by Prakash Jha.

Kunal Kemmu won the best actor in a comic role for his hilarious turn in last year comedy Lootcase. The actor dedicated his win to the team of the film.