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Key Points

Vidhu Vinod Chopra's film "12th Fail" won two National Awards at the 71st ceremony. He dedicated the win to the real-life inspiration, IPS officer Manoj Sharma, stating there should be more officers like him. The film, starring Vikrant Massey, is an adaptation of Anurag Pathak's book about Sharma's journey. In a touching full-circle moment, Chopra and his wife met LK Advani, who presented Chopra with his first National Award nearly 50 years ago.

Key Points: Vidhu Vinod Chopra Credits Manoj Sharma for 12th Fail National Award

  • Chopra received the Best Feature Film award from President Droupadi Murmu in New Delhi
  • The film stars Vikrant Massey as real-life IPS officer Manoj Sharma
  • Chopra's wife Anupama shared an emotional post about his first award in 1977
  • 12th Fail became a surprise box-office hit with its story of grit and determination
2 min read

There should be more officers like him...: Vidhu Vinod Chopra credits Manoj Sharma for '12th Fail's National Award win

Vidhu Vinod Chopra dedicates 12th Fail's National Award win to real-life officer Manoj Sharma, calling for more officers like him after meeting LK Advani.

"I believe officers like Manoj Sharma are the reason why a lot of people get National Awards. - Vidhu Vinod Chopra"

New Delhi, September 23

Vidhu Vinod Chopra's '12th Fail' bagged two national awards at the 71st National Film Awards 2025.

The awards ceremony took place in New Delhi, where Chopra received the Best Feature Film award from President Droupadi Murmu.

"I believe officers like Manoj Sharma are the reason why a lot of people get National Awards. There should be more officers like him," Chopra told ANI.

The film, adapted from Anurag Pathak's book, stars Vikrant Massey in the lead role as Sharma, with Medha Shankr playing Shraddha Joshi, a fellow UPSC aspirant who becomes his companion.

The story of grit, failure, and determination touched audiences across the country, turning the film into a surprise box-office success after its October 27, 2023, release.

Adding to the celebrations, Chopra's wife, Anupama Chopra, shared an adorable note on Instagram. Chopra posted pictures of her husband meeting BJP veteran L K Advani after the win and recalled his very first National Award nearly five decades ago.

"In 1977 when VVC won his first National Award for his FTII diploma film Murder at Monkey Hill, Shri L.K. Advani who was then I & B minister presented it to him. Today, after winning his 6th and 7th National Awards for 12th Fail, we first went to seek his blessings. It was a very emotional moment. What a journey!" she wrote.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DO8rsuVDyE5/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

The film also featured Anant Joshi, Anshumaan Pushkar, and Priyanshu Chatterjee, with the screenplay written by Chopra and Jaskunwar Kohli.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Vidhu Vinod Chopra is absolutely right! We need more officers like Manoj Sharma who come from humble backgrounds and understand ground realities. The film's success proves that content-driven cinema still works in India.
M
Michael C
Watched this film with my Indian colleagues here in London. The storytelling transcends borders - the universal theme of perseverance against all odds. Vikrant Massey's performance was outstanding!
A
Ananya R
The emotional moment with Advani ji shows how far Indian cinema has come. From FTII diploma film to 7 National Awards - what a journey indeed! 🎬 So proud of our film industry creating meaningful content.
S
Sarah B
While I appreciate the film's message, I wish it had shown more about the systemic challenges in the UPSC process. The romantic subplot sometimes overshadowed the actual struggle of preparation. Still, a well-deserved win!
V
Vikram M
Bahut badhiya! This film brought tears to my eyes. As a father whose son is preparing for competitive exams, 12th Fail shows the real value of never giving up. More such inspirational stories needed in Bollywood!
K
Kavya N
The fact that this was a surprise box office hit shows that Indian audiences are hungry for meaningful content. No

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