The Jagran Film Festival Awards 2026 celebrated outstanding contributions to Indian cinema and digital entertainment, recognising talent across theatrical releases, OTT productions and short films. This year’s winners list features several notable names, including Radhika Apte, Vedang Raina and filmmaker Imtiaz Ali.
Among the major highlights, Gondhal, directed by Nitin Supekar, received the Best Film award in the theatrical category. The film was also selected as India’s official entry for the Oscars. Meanwhile, Vedang Raina took home the Best Actor award for Main Vaapas Aaunga, while Imtiaz Ali was recognised as Best Director for the same film.
The digital category also saw some prominent winners, with Radhika Apte receiving the Best Female Actor award in the OTT category. Here is the complete list of winners from the Jagran Film Festival Awards 2026.
Jagran Film Festival Awards 2026: Theatrical Category Winners
The theatrical category recognised achievements in acting, direction, music, screenplay, editing and cinematography. Main Vaapas Aaunga emerged as one of the notable winners, securing multiple awards.
| Award Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best Film | Gondhal (Directed by Nitin Supekar) |
| Best Actor | Vedang Raina – Main Vaapas Aaunga |
| Best Director | Imtiaz Ali – Main Vaapas Aaunga |
| Best Music Director | Sadhu S. Tiwari – Parvati (Hanuman Ansh) |
| Best Screenplay | Main Vaapas Aaunga |
| Best Editing | Main Vaapas Aaunga |
| Best Cinematography | Phule |
Gondhal received additional recognition following its selection as India’s official entry for the Oscars. Vedang Raina’s Best Actor win and Imtiaz Ali’s recognition for direction were among the major highlights of the theatrical awards.
Music director Sadhu S. Tiwari was honoured for the popular song Parvati from Hanuman Ansh.
Digital and OTT Category: Complete Winners List
The OTT category acknowledged performances and productions that made an impact on digital streaming platforms. Netflix’s Operation Safed Sagar secured the Best Series award, while its lead actor Siddharth received the Best Male Actor honour.
Radhika Apte was recognised in the Best Female Actor category, and Saali Mohabbat won Best OTT Film.
| Award Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best Series | Operation Safed Sagar (Netflix) |
| Best Actor (OTT – Male) | Siddharth – Operation Safed Sagar |
| Best Actor (OTT – Female) | Radhika Apte |
| Best Film (OTT) | Saali Mohabbat |
Other Major Winners at Jagran Film Festival 2026
Apart from the theatrical and OTT awards, the festival also recognised independent filmmaking and contributions to visual storytelling.
Past Tense, directed by Anant Narayan Mahadevan, received the Outstanding Film (India) award. Meanwhile, Gamdhani 7.1, directed by Omguru, was named Best Short Film.
A special recognition was also presented to M. B. Shetty for excellence in the art of visual storytelling. The honour was conferred posthumously and accepted by his son, Rohit Shetty.
Jagran Film Festival Awards 2026: Key Highlights
The 2026 edition recognised achievements across different areas of the entertainment industry, bringing theatrical cinema and OTT productions together.
Gondhal secured the top theatrical film honour, while Main Vaapas Aaunga received recognition in several major categories. Radhika Apte’s OTT acting award and Operation Safed Sagar’s success were among the notable digital category highlights.
The awards also acknowledged short-film creators and contributions to the art of filmmaking, reflecting the festival’s recognition of talent across multiple formats.