Our Bureau
Jaipur
At the prestigious IIFA 2025 awards, actress Nitanshi Goel’s journey from debutant to Best Actress in a Leading Role (Female) was nothing short of extraordinary.
The actress, who made her debut in Kiran Rao’s acclaimed film ‘Laapataa Ladies’, found herself overwhelmed with emotions as she accepted the award for her portrayal of Phool Kumari in the film.
Bollywood legends Boman Irani and Bobby Deol presented her with the award, and Nitanshi stunned attendees in a mesmerizing ruby-red gown.
Asked about the emotional moment when she couldn’t hold back tears, she revealed, “It’s become a thing now. Honestly, I couldn’t stop crying because winning this award is a dream come true for every actor, and it’s finally come true for me. I’m just so grateful.”
Nitanshi also expressed her gratitude, saying, “I dedicate this to my mom, to everyone who loved Phool, to those who accepted me–Nitanshi and Phool. A special thanks to Kiran ma’am, Aamir sir, and the entire team of Laapataa Ladies. And of course, the universe for making this happen.”
Looking to the future, Nitanshi expressed excitement about working with more stars. “There are so many people on my list,” she said, adding, “But Shah Rukh sir tops the chart, followed by Kartik Aaryan. It would be amazing to work with any of them.”
At the IIFA 2025 awards, Kartik Aaryan was honoured with the prestigious Best Actor (Male) award for his remarkable performance as Rooh Baba in ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’.
“I don’t have words right now. I am not Chandu, I am the champion. I know this is not an award for that film, but I have the same feeling,” Kartik began, referencing his role from the film ‘Chandu Champion’, for which he garnered much acclaim.
“The whole journey with Bhool Bhulaiyaa has been full of thorns,” he continued, recalling the doubts and questions that arose when he first joined the franchise.
“From the beginning, when I was cast for Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, people questioned whether I could carry the film on my shoulders. And even during Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, we didn’t know if we would succeed on the big day,” he said.
Despite the challenges, Kartik expressed deep gratitude to his fans for their unwavering support.
“Thank you to the audience for always supporting the entire franchise and for giving so much love to both Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. This year, when the film was released during Diwali 2024, we were incredibly happy to see the love it received.”
Kartik’s emotional tribute continued as he thanked the film’s director, Anees Bazmee, for giving him the iconic role of Rooh Baba, a character that has now become an identity in itself. “A big thank you to Anees Bazmee sir for creating such a huge character, Rooh Baba, which has truly become a legacy across generations,” he said.
‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’ proved to be a milestone in Kartik’s career, marking his biggest box-office success.
The film, which clashed with Ajay Devgn’s Singham Again, triumphed, grossing over Rs 400 crores globally.
Meanwhile, The IIFA 2025 in Jaipur, concluded on a magical note, courtesy of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan.
He showed up on the stage in style and left everyone awestruck with his performance on his blockbuster tracks ranging from ‘Chaiyya Chaiyya’, ‘Lungi Dance’, ”Jhoome Jo Pathaan’, and ‘Shava Shava’ among others.
To make the night more memorable and nostalgic for the audience in Jaipur, he also shook a leg with his ‘Dil To Pagal Hai’ co-star Madhuri Dixit Nene.
The duo relived their old days by grooving to ‘Koi Ladki Hai’ song from the 1997 hit ‘Dil To Pagal Hai’, evoking loud cheer, whistles and non-stop claps from the spectators.
His presence brought smiles to the faces of thousands of fans who waited for hours just to catch his glimpse, proving once again why he is called the ‘King Khan’.
Shah Rukh performing under the moonlight definitely added ‘chaar chand’ to the IIFA 2025 mehfil. And in no time, visuals from his performance went viral.
His entry was as grand as ever. Right before he appeared on the stage, several drones lit up the sky in Jaipur as they made the formations of Shah Rukh Khan’s name, his signature pose and the king’s crown.
IIFA 2025 has wrapped up but the 25th edition of the award show will always be cherished by cinema buffs for many reasons and one of them is for sure Shah Rukh’s remarkable performance.
