Ahmedabad: On the night of the 70th Filmfare Awards, Alia Bhatt made history: she won her sixth Best Actress trophy, overtaking legendary names like Nutan and Kajol, each of whom had been tied at five.
Her award was for Jigra, in which she played a sister who attempts a daring jailbreak to save her brother. In doing so, she not only broke the record, but also made it three wins in a row — a feat few before her have achieved. Meanwhile, the film Laapataa Ladies dominated the technical and supporting categories, grabbing 13 awards (a record number) — yet it drew a blank in the acting categories.
The numbers vs the narrative
Record at a Glance
Before this, Nutan had held the highest number of Best Actress Filmfare awards (5), a record she achieved in 1979.
Kajol later equaled that record (5) with her win for My Name Is Khan.
By surpassing them with six, Alia becomes the most awarded in that category.
But a numerical lead doesn’t always equal qualitative superiority — and that debate is already raging online.
The Praise — What Supports Her Worthiness
Consistency & versatility
Supporters argue that Alia’s six wins reflect consistency across different genres and moods, from Udta Punjab to Raazi, Gully Boy, Gangubai Kathiawadi, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, and now Jigra. Such variety suggests she is not a one-trick performer.
Commercial & critical resonance
Though Jigra did not fare spectacularly at the box office (reportedly earning ~₹55 crore against a ~₹80 crore budget) , her performance was lauded. Many feel the award is a recognition of her craft rather than box office metrics.
Career trajectory & cultural moment
For a star still relatively young in her career, breaking a decades-old record is a symbolic milestone. It shows her peers and critics consider her a benchmark for her generation.
The Criticism — Why Some Question Her “Worth”
“Did the film deserve it?”
Sceptics point to Jigra’s modest commercial performance and say that winning Best Actress for a flop film raises eyebrows. Some feel the narrative gave her too much “hero moment” space, making the award seem more sentimental than merit-based.
Back-to-back wins stir perception of bias
This being her third consecutive Filmfare Best Actress win has led to accusations of favoritism. On Reddit, one user asked, “How on earth does Alia Bhatt keep bagging every Best Actress award year after year, no matter what the movie’s outcome is?”
Another comment: “They received so much backlash for giving her award back to back … the most Best Actor wins are shared … nobody doubts their acting skills… Alia is not at that level.”
Legacy legends vs modern stardom
Comparisons with Nutan and Kajol inevitably trigger debates about different eras, changing standards, and evolving audience tastes. Some believe that icons such as Nutan or Kajol should not be measured by the same yardstick as modern stars. The weight of legacy and cultural impact might exceed trophy counts.
