The 70th Hyundai Filmfare Awards 2025 celebrated the best of Hindi cinema with a star-studded night of fashion, music, performances, and memorable wins. With fierce competition from mainstream crowd-pleasers to critically acclaimed dramas, it was a year where talent truly shined. Here’s your guide to the major nominations and predicted winners — including films, performances, and technical achievements that dominated this year.
🏆 Top Nominated Films
The nominations list for 2025 features a strong lineup of films reflecting both box-office success and critical acclaim:
📍 Best Film Nominees: Article 370, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, Kill, Laapataa Ladies, Stree 2 — with Laapataa Ladies leading the pack across multiple categories.
Among these, Laapataa Ladies emerged as a standout, earning recognition in major categories including Best Film, Best Director and Best Actress (Critics), making it a front-runner for multiple wins.
🎭 Best Director Predictions
The competition for Best Director is tough, with both seasoned and fresh voices in the race:
💡 Predicted Nominees
- Aditya Suhas Jambhale (Article 370)
- Amar Kaushik (Stree 2)
- Anees Bazmee (Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3)
- Kiran Rao (Laapataa Ladies)
- Nikhil Nagesh Bhat (Kill)
📌 Prediction: Kiran Rao (Laapataa Ladies) holds strong chances due to consistent praise for her direction, though Amar Kaushik (Stree 2) could surprise with a crowd-pleasing win.
🎤 Best Actor & Actress (Leading Roles)
🎥 Best Actor (Male)
Nominees Include:
- Abhishek Bachchan (I Want To Talk)
- Ajay Devgn (Maidaan)
- Akshay Kumar (Sarfira)
- Hrithik Roshan (Fighter)
- Kartik Aaryan (Chandu Champion)
- Rajkummar Rao (Stree 2)
🧠 Prediction: Kartik Aaryan for Chandu Champion is a strong contender for his transformative performance, while Abhishek Bachchan’s emotional role in I Want To Talk could also clinch the trophy.
👩 Best Actress (Female)
The Best Actress category this year is stacked with talent, and Alia Bhatt’s name has appeared prominently for her role in Jigra, which is widely expected to be among the top performances.
🧠 Prediction: Alia Bhatt (Jigra) is the favorite here — her performance has been both a fan and critic favorite, and she ultimately won the award, extending her legacy in Filmfare history.
📣 Critics’ Awards & Technical Honors
Filmfare also places emphasis on arts-driven cinema with Critics’ Awards in major segments:
★ Best Film (Critics’) Nominees:
- I Want To Talk (Shoojit Sircar)
- Laapataa Ladies (Kiran Rao)
- Maidaan (Amit Ravindernath Sharma)
- Merry Christmas (Sriram Raghavan)
- The Buckingham Murders (Hansal Mehta)
🧠 Prediction: The Critics’ nod could go to I Want To Talk, due to its strong narrative and emotional resonance with juries — and it did, earning the Critics’ Best Film title.
Across technical categories — from cinematography to sound design and visual effects — films like Kill and Laapataa Ladies are likely to shine, as Kill has been celebrated for cinematic craft such as VFX and background score.
💥 Most Expected Wins & Surprises
✔️ Laapataa Ladies dominated the show, winning multiple awards including Best Film, Best Screenplay, Best Supporting performances, and key technical honors.
✔️ Best Actor (Male) was shared between Abhishek Bachchan (I Want To Talk) and Kartik Aaryan (Chandu Champion), reflecting both artistic and popular recognition.
✔️ Best Actress (Female) went to Alia Bhatt (Jigra) — marking a record achievement for her.
✔️ Veteran icons like Zeenat Aman received the Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring their long-standing contribution to cinema.
🧠 Final Thoughts
The Filmfare Awards 2025 showcased a vibrant year for Hindi cinema, balancing critical favorites with mainstream entertainers. Laapataa Ladies stood out as the film most reflective of cinematic craft and narrative strength, while performances by Alia Bhatt, Kartik Aaryan, and Abhishek Bachchan defined major acting categories.
From debut talents to seasoned stars, 2025’s Filmfare trajectory highlights both evolving storytelling trends and the enduring popularity of beloved actors — indicating an industry that celebrates diversity, innovation, and heartfelt performances.