It wasn&rsquo;t just another awards night, it was Bollywood taking a breath, looking inward, and asking itself what kind of stories it wants to tell next.
The 70th Filmfare Awards 2025, held at EKA Arena, Kankaria Lake in Ahmedabad, shimmered with nostalgia and reinvention in equal measure. Hosted by Shah Rukh Khan, Karan Johar, and Maniesh Paul, the evening unfolded like a love letter to Indian cinema, brimming with wit, warmth, and cinematic spectacle.
SRK&rsquo;s charm and Karan&rsquo;s self-aware humor set the tone, while Kajol joined Shah Rukh for a nostalgic dance that turned the arena into a sea of goosebumps and applause.
The night clearly belonged to Kiran Rao&rsquo;s Laapataa Ladies,&nbsp;the soulful ode to small-town India that walked away with 13 awards, including Best Film and Best Director, equalling the all-time record set by Gully Boy.
 <video controls="controls" width="300" height="150">
<source src="https://ibp-benefits.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/prod/news/uploads/videos/1760249138074_WhatsApp_Video_2025-10-12_at_11.30.47.mp4.mp4" type="video/mp4"></video>
Alia Bhatt won Best Actress (Lead) for Jigra, with Karan Johar accepting the award on her behalf, a fitting full-circle moment for the duo&rsquo;s creative journey. The Best Actor (Lead) category saw a rare, poetic tie between Abhishek Bachchan (I Want to Talk) and Kartik Aaryan (Chandu Champion), each representing different shades of modern Bollywood masculinity, introspection and resilience.
Rajkummar Rao (Srikant) and Pratibha Ranta (Laapataa Ladies) bagged the Critics&rsquo; Choice Awards, reaffirming the rise of authentic, performance-driven storytelling.
From Kriti Sanon's kinetic energy to Siddhant Chaturvedi&rsquo;s electric moves, and the emotional crescendo of SRK and Kajol&rsquo;s reunion, the performances were pure spectacle with reliving 90's Bollywood. The evening also honored cinema legends,&nbsp;Zeenat Aman received the Lifetime Achievement Award, while Shyam Benegal was remembered posthumously for his timeless contributions.
As the lights dimmed and the applause echoed, one truth lingered in the air, Bollywood&rsquo;s golden age isn&rsquo;t behind us. It&rsquo;s being rewritten, one story at a time.

When SRK Knelt, Time Stood Still at Filmfare 2025

Bollywood’s brightest lit up Ahmedabad as Laapataa Ladies ruled Filmfare 2025

Filmfare 2025: A Night of Glory & Grace

Bollywood’s brightest lit up Ahmedabad as Laapataa Ladies ruled Filmfare 2025

October 12, 2025 | 17:39 IST