Randeep Hooda has added a major honour to his filmmaking journey, winning the Best Debut Film of a Director award at the 72nd National Film Awards for Swatantrya Veer Savarkar.
The actor-filmmaker received the prestigious Swarna Kamal from President Droupadi Murmu during the awards ceremony in Gujarat on September 22, 2026. The event was held at Ekta Nagar, close to the Statue of Unity, marking the first occasion on which the National Film Awards ceremony was organised outside New Delhi.
Hooda takes on multiple roles in the film
Swatantrya Veer Savarkar, released in 2024, marked Hooda's first outing as a director. He took on several responsibilities for the project, serving as its director and co-writer while also portraying the central character, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.
The biographical drama traces important phases of Savarkar's life, particularly his involvement in the revolutionary movement and the years he spent imprisoned in the Cellular Jail.
For Hooda, the film represented a demanding transition from acting to filmmaking. He has previously spoken about the intensity of making the project and described the experience as one that required complete commitment from him.
A new milestone in Hooda’s career
The National Film Award gives Hooda's directorial debut recognition at one of the country's most prominent film honours. The award also places the film among the works acknowledged at the 72nd edition of the National Film Awards for their contribution to Indian cinema.
The ceremony's move from New Delhi to Gujarat added another distinction to this year's event. As Hooda accepted the Swarna Kamal, Swatantrya Veer Savarkar marked a significant milestone in his career, bringing together his work as an actor, writer and first-time director.
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