Archive · 8 Sep 2026
Rahul Dholakia Questions National Film Awards Shift To Gujarat
The National Film Awards are usually presented in New Delhi.
In 2026, the ceremony will instead happen in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat.
It is scheduled for September 22.
Filmmaker Rahul Dholakia asked why the event was moved to Gujarat.
He suggested states and cities with major contributions to Indian cinema, including Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Hyderabad.
Some people online said Ekta Nagar is a beautiful place and opposed his criticism.
Others agreed that film-producing regions should have been chosen.
The article does not state the official reason for selecting Gujarat.
The 72nd National Film Awards ceremony will be held in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat, on September 22, 2026.
The ceremony is departing from its usual venue in New Delhi, where it has generally been held at Vigyan Bhawan.
Filmmaker Rahul Dholakia questioned why Gujarat was chosen and suggested Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, or Hyderabad instead.
Social-media users offered mixed reactions, with some defending Ekta Nagar’s location and others supporting Dholakia’s criticism.
The article says winners expected to attend include Kartik Aaryan, Yami Gautam, Mammootty, Aditya Dhar, Rajkumar Periasamy, and Randeep Hooda.
- Who
- The 72nd National Film Awards organizers, filmmaker Rahul Dholakia, and the listed award winners are involved.
- What
- The 2026 National Film Awards ceremony is being moved from its usual New Delhi venue to Gujarat.
- When
- The ceremony is scheduled for September 22, 2026; Dholakia posted his criticism on September 8, 2026.
- Where
- The ceremony will take place in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat, rather than New Delhi’s Vigyan Bhawan.
- Why
- The official reason for choosing Gujarat is not stated in the article; Dholakia questioned the decision and proposed other cinema-related locations.
Questions About The Venue
Defenses Of The Venue
Why Gujarat was selected
Questions About The Venue
Rahul Dholakia questioned why Gujarat was chosen and argued that Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, or Hyderabad would better reflect regions that have contributed to cinema.
Defenses Of The Venue
Some social-media users defended the decision, describing Ekta Nagar as a beautiful location and saying the criticism should not become political.
Which regions deserve recognition
Questions About The Venue
Some commenters agreed with Dholakia, arguing that Mumbai and southern India are central to the film industry and generate significant film-related revenue.
Defenses Of The Venue
Supporters of the Gujarat venue did not accept that a location’s film-industry prominence should determine where the ceremony is held.
- Event
- 72nd National Film Awards ceremony
- New venue
- Ekta Nagar, Gujarat
- Date
- September 22, 2026
- Usual venue
- Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi
- Critic
- Filmmaker Rahul Dholakia
- Suggested alternatives
- Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Hyderabad
- Public reaction
- Social-media responses were mixed