Showsha Reel Awards 2025 Highlights: The Showsha Reel Awards 2025 was a grand affair that celebrated the best of Indian cinema and OTT. The evening saw dazzling performances, emotional acceptance speeches and moments that left the audience mesmerised. Girls Will Be Girls emerged as the star of the night, bagging the Best Film (Jury) award, with producers Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal taking the stage to accept the honour. The film’s lead, Kani Kusruti, was also recognised for her exceptional performance, winning the Best Actor (Female) Jury award. Meanwhile, Imtiaz Ali took home the Best Director (Jury) award for his masterful storytelling in Amar Singh Chamkila, a biographical drama capturing the life of the iconic pop duo Amar Singh Chamkila and Amarjot Kaur. While Abhishek Bachchan was declared Best Actor (Jury) for his terrific performance in I Want To Talk.
In the popular choice category, Rajkummar Rao and Janhvi Kapoor reigned supreme. Rajkummar’s stellar performance in Stree 2, the biggest blockbuster of 2024, earned him the Best Actor (Male) Popular Choice award. On stage, Rajkummar expressed gratitude to director Amar Kaushik for giving him creative freedom. Janhvi Kapoor, on the other hand, won Best Actress (Female) Popular Choice for her heartfelt portrayal of Mahima in Mr & Mrs Mahi. Host Arjun Kapoor praised Janhvi’s dedication and spoke about how she pushed herself despite injuries to perfect her role as a cricketer.
OTT stars also shined bright at the event. Varun Dhawan won Best Actor OTT (Male) for his gripping performance in Citadel: Honey Bunny, while Samantha Ruth Prabhu took home the Best Actor OTT (Female) award for her powerful role in the same series. Both actors expressed gratitude to directors Raj & DK.
Jaideep Ahlawat and Aditi Rao Hydari were crowned OTT Star of the Year for their outstanding performances. Jaideep’s work in Broken News 2 and Maharaja earned him accolades, while Aditi recreated her viral Gajagamini walk from Heeramandi on stage with Arjun Kapoor, much to the delight of the audience.
Rising talents also made a mark at the event, with Raghav Juyal and Pratibha Ranta winning Rising Star Awards for their performances in Kill and Laapataa Ladies, respectively. Pankaj Tripathi was honoured with the Entertainer of the Year award for his versatile performances in Stree 2, Mirzapur Season 3, and Main Atal Hoon.
Kabir Khan won Best Director for Chandu Champion, a story that beautifully captured the spirit of Murlikant Petkar, India’s first individual Olympic gold medalist.
