National Awards: Akshay Kumar wins Best Actor, 'Neerja' named Best Hindi Film

64th National Film Awards: Akshay Kumar wins Best Actor, 'Neerja' named Best Hindi Film

64th National Film Awards: Akshay Kumar wins Best Actor for 'Rustom'

The 64th National Film Awards were announced on Friday. Akshay Kumar won the Best Actor award for 'Rustom', while Sonam Kapoor-starrer 'Neerja' bagged the Best Hindi Feature Film for the year 2016.

64th National Film Awards: Sonam Kapoor-starrer 'Neerja' wins Best Hindi Feature Film

Akshay Kumar won his first National Film Award for his role in court room drama 'Rustom', inspired by the 1959 Nanavati case, while Marathi film 'Kaasav' was named the best picture today.

Akshay Kumar played the role a patriotic naval officer in the movie, who ends up in jail after killing the lover of his wife.

The movie, directed by Tinu Suresh Desai, was loosely based on the murder of Prem Ahuja by Commander K M Nanavati.

Rajesh Mapuskar was named the best director for his Marathi film 'Ventilator'.

The jury, headed by filmmaker Priyadarshan, chose Amitabh Bachchan-starrer 'Pink', a female-centric court room drama, as the best film on social issues.

Taapsee Pannu in a still from 'Pink'

Surabhi C M was named as the best actress for her role in Malayalam film 'Minnaminungu-The Firefly'.

Sonan Kapoor-starrer 'Neerja', a story on flight attendant Neerja Bhanot who was killed by terrorists while saving passengers after the plane was hijacked, bagged the best Hindi film award.

The actress received a special mention for her critically-lauded performance.

'Dhanak' was named the best children film, while Telugu movie 'Sathamanam Bhavathi' was chosen as the popular film.

Kashmiri actress Zaira Wasim was named the best supporting actress for her role in Aamir Khan-starrer 'Dangal'.

In the Best Special Effects category, Ajay Devgn's 'Shivaay' took away the accolades.