Jaipur hosted the 25th edition of the IIFA Awards, making it a night to remember for many prominent figures, including Kartik Aaryan, who bagged the IIFA for Best Actor for his role as Ruhaan “Rooh Baba” in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. However, his big win did not sit well with a large section of people.
This is not the first time a deserving performer has been overlooked in favour of a more popular actor, and it certainly won’t be the last. Kartik Aaryan is a terrific actor, but he should have been nominated for his outstanding portrayal of India’s first Paralympic gold medalist, Murlikant Petkar, in Kabir Khan’s Chandu Champion in the first place.
It is evident that Chandu Champion was a far superior film compared to a below-average movie like Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. The latter benefitted immensely from Aaryan’s popularity, the audience’s nostalgia for the Bhool Bhulaiyaa franchise, the Diwali 2024 weekend, and the return of Vidya Balan. However, the film crumbled in several key areas, such as its soundtrack and storyline.
There is no denying that commercial success and star power have significantly influenced IIFA’s award outcomes since its inception, often overshadowing exceptional performances in less commercially successful films.
The focus on big-name stars frequently results in deserving performances being ignored—something that has seemingly happened to Abhishek Bachchan’s performance in I Want To Talk, especially when compared to Kartik Aaryan’s win for Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3.
Star power matters and Aaryan’s win for the third Bhool Bhulaiyaa installment is proof of that. At present, the Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety actor is one of the most bankable stars in Hindi cinema, even ranking above veterans like Ajay Devgn. As a result, many people are unhappy with his IIFA 2025 win for Best Actor.
Aaryan is an exceptional and natural talent—there’s no denying that. But sidelining his performance in a quality film like Chandu Champion in favour of his work in a mediocre project like Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 doesn’t make sense. It only reinforces how scripted and biased events like IIFA are. Stay tuned for more updates.
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