Bollywood rules: Top acting honours for Amitabh Bachchan, Kangana Ranaut

Superstar Amitabh Bachchan and Kangana Ranaut won National Film Awards for best actor and actress, while S.S. Rajamouli’s Baahubali was chosen best feature film Monday. For Bachchan it was his fourth national award while for Kangana it was her second consecutive best actress title.

The awards list was dominated by Bollywood films in major categories while regional films were restricted to playing second fiddle. Bachchan, 73, was named best actor for his role as a hypochondriac father in the road-trip family drama Piku. His earlier awards were for Agneepath, Black and Paa. Kangana was named best actress for her endearing dual turn as Tanu, a troublesome wife and Haryanvi sports star Datto in the romantic comedy Tanu Weds Manu Returns. She called it her “best birthday gift” as she was honoured along with Bachchan.

“It is the best birthday gift I could have got. I am thrilled and feel blessed especially since Mr Bachchan is best actor with me,” she said. This is Kangana’s third national award, after getting the best actress award for Queen last year, and earlier for best supporting actress in the 2008 film Fashion.