Filmfare Flashback: All Winners of Best Actor (Critics’) Award in The Last 20 Years
2005
In 2005, Pankaj Kapur won the Best Actor (Critics’) Award for Vishal Bharadwaj’s Maqbool, an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Kapur played the role of Jahangir Khan (Abbaji), whose character mirrons Duncan I of Scotland in the original play.
2006
Amitabh Bachchan won the Award in 2006 for his film Black. It was inspired by the life of Helen Keller. Bachchan played Debraj, an ageing teacher who helps a deaf and blind woman. He later develops Alzheimer’s disease.
2007
Aamir Khan took home the Best Actor (Critics’) Award for Rang De Basanti. He played a carefree and aimless youth who transforms into a committed revolutionary after his flight lieutenant friend is killed in a jet malfunction accident.
2008
Darsheel Safary won the award in 2008 for Taare Zameen Par, which was also his debut film. He played the lead role of a dyslexic young boy.
2009
Manjot Singh was the next in line to win this award for Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! He played the younger version of Abhay Deol’s character, Lovinder ‘Lucky’ Singh.
2010
Best Actor (Critics’) Award was won by Ranbir Kapoor in 2010 for his films Wake Up Sid, Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani and Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year.
2011
The Best Actor (Critics’) Award went to late actor Rishi Kapoor for Do Dooni Char.
2012
Ranbir Kapoor once again won the Best Actor (Critics’) Award in 2012 for Imtiaz Ali’s Rockstar.
2013
Irrfan Khan won the Best Actor (Critics’) Award at the Filmfare Awards 2013 for Paan Singh Tomar.
2014
Rajkummar Rao won for Shahid, a film based on the life of late lawyer and human rights activist Shahid Azmi, who was assassinated in 2010.
2015
Sanjay Mishra won for the film Ankhon Dekhi. His character in the film refuses to believe anything he is told unless he has seen it with his own eyes.
2016
Amitabh Bachchan won for Piku. He played an eccentric father in the film. It also starred Deepika Padukone and Irrfan Khan.
2017
The Best Actor (Critics’) Award was jointly won by Manoj Bajpayee (for Aligarh) and Shahid Kapoor (for Udta Punjab) in 2017.
2018
Rajkummar Rao took home the Black Lady for Trapped, a survival drama that follows a call centre employee who gets trapped in his apartment.
2019
The year 2019 saw two winners for the Best Actor (Critics’) Award – Ayushmann Khurrana for Andhadhun and Ranveer Singh for Padmavat.
2020
Ayushmann Khurrana once again won the Best Actor (Critics’) Award for Article 15. He essayed the role of a policeman who investigates the disappearance of three young girls from a village where he is posted. In his journey to unravel the truth, he also witnesses the caste-based discrimination and violence that has been normalised.
2021
Amitabh Bachchan won it for Gulabo Sitabo. In the comedy-drama, he played a stingy old landlord.
2022
Vicky Kaushal took home the trophy for Sardar Udham, a biographical historical drama, based on the life of Udham Singh.
2023
The Black Lady went to Sanjay Mishra for Vadh. The film followed an elderly couple Shambhunath (Mishra) and Manju (Neena Gupta), who are constantly harassed by their loan shark neighbour. However, one day, Sambhu ends up killing him.
2024
Vikrant Massey won the award last year for 12th Fail. The film is based on a book by Anurag Pathak, where he chronicles the journey of IPS officer Manoj Kumar Singh, who overcame extreme poverty to become an Indian Police Service officer. Vikrant played the lead role.
Filmfare Throwback: Stars With The Most Filmfare Awards For Best Actor In A Leading Role (Female)
