Did Shah Rukh Khan Really Deserve The Filmfare Best Actor Award in 1994?

His hauntingly resonating performance as Ajay Sharma/Vicky Malhotra in Abbas-Mustan’s Baazigar is one of the very bests of his career. In 1993 when Shah Rukh decided to turn an anti-hero and change the rule books of mainstream cinema, everybody knew the methodical Hindi film industry had found someone different. The film became a super hit and Shah Rukh Khan was a star overnight. Not too long after, he was found inhabiting all major award stages giving an acceptance speech for being chosen the Best Actor.

He was fabulous without any second question even being thought of but the bottom lined argument that we haven’t really given a thought to is: DID SRK REALLY DESERVE THE BEST ACTOR AWARD IN 1994? It’s 2017 and there was no reason for us to go almost 25 years back until we took a close look at the Best Actor nominees in the same year.

While Shah Rukh had produced a performance that I’d still put in his top 5, the fellow nominations made a real good case as well. So before we make our own decision, let’s go through the other Filmfare Best Actor nominations of the year:

Aamir Khan for Hum Hain Rahi Pyaar Ke

While Hum Hain Rahi Pyaar won Juhi Chawla the best actress award, it was also adjudged the best film of the year. However Mr. Perfectionist got a beating from Shah Rukh. Aamir’s was an earnest performance that seemed coming right from the heart. In such a simple family drama, he put everything that he could but maybe it wasn’t enough for the jury to be convinced.

Our view: At par with Shah Rukh

Jackie Shroff for Gardish

If you haven’t seen this movie and have not been introduced to one of the most heart wrenching performance of the 90’s, please go and check out Priyadarshan ’s Gardish. A modest regular citizen going violent under the havoc of a corrupt system, Jackie Shroff didn’t just act but put his heart out as Shiva Sathe in Gardish. Why he wasn’t considered for the Filmfare honor, we are not quite sure.

Our view: Better than Shah Rukh

Govinda for Aankhen

In a country that hasn’t really valued comedy half as much as it deserves, Govinda should just have been content getting a nomination. However in Aankhen he was truly a complete performer. From displaying his range of being a funny spoilt son, a helpless brother, a fighting citizen and also a funny villager, Govinda was absolutely fantastic in David Dhawan’s Aankhein that went on to be the highest grossing film of the year. However, just not enough to challenge something that SRK pulled off in Baazigar.

Our view: Not Better than Shah Rukh

Sanjay Dutt for Khalnayak

Sanju Baba must still be pondering over not being chosen Filmfare Best Actor for his career’s best performance.  A pretty simple explanation to his snubbing would be his initial jail sentence at the time the awards were held. However should he his acting performance have taken the brunt of it all is not completely justified. Khalnayak belonged to Sanjay Dutt’s psychotic performance that truly set the benchmarks very high. He was on top of his game and clearly the most powerful performance of the time.

Our view: Better than Shah Rukh

Filmfare honors are something that we as spectators shouldn't really be stressing over. Although back in the early 90’s when it did carry some credibility and value, 1994 Best Actor category made for some solid arguments.

The trophy is right now resting in the living room of Lands End Mannat, but does it truly belong there is what we wanted to discuss. Tell us what you think!