‘Hum Tum’ is surely one of the best romantic films in Bollywood, but many people doubted whether Saif Ali Khan deserved a National Award for his performance in the film. The debate around Saif Ali Khan’s National Award win for ‘Hum Tum’ continues to spark conversations and director Kunal Kohli has now reacted to the long-standing controversy.

In a chat with SCREEN, Kunal Kohli addressed the criticism surrounding the 2005 award, “Well, I just directed the film. The head of the jury at that time was Sudhir Mishra. You should go catch Sudhir (laughs). I’m flattered that Saif got it for a film I did. I had nothing to do with him getting the National Award except ensuring a great performance from him. That was my only contribution.”For Saif Ali Khan, the award marked a major turning point. His role as Karan Kapoor was widely appreciated and the performance stood out for its charm and relatability. It helped reshape Saif’s image in Bollywood.

Criticism and comparisons with other performances

Despite the win, the decision was not unquestioned. Sections of the film fraternity raised concerns. Critics debated whether the performance matched the depth expected from a National Award winner. Comparisons were drawn with Shah Rukh Khan’s performance in ‘Swades’. Amitabh Bachchan’s role in ‘Black’ was also seen as a strong contender. Many believed these performances had greater intensity. For this reason, allegations of bias within the jury further fueled the debate at the time.

Shah Rukh Khan’s old fun remark resurfaces

Amid the renewed discussion, an old video of Shah Rukh Khan has resurfaced. The clip is from an early 2000s event organised by a luxury wristwatch brand Sharing the stage with Kunal Kohli and Mandira Bedi, Shah Rukh made a light-hearted remark, “I am good by heart. I like all films, all heroes, and all heroines. I like everything, including your films. I have loved them all.Fanaa was very good. I think Hum Tum was very nice. His actor won the National Award for Hum Tum when I think I should have got it, but that’s another story.” The actor laughed after the comment. Even Kunal Kohli was seen smiling at the moment.Coming to the present, Saif Ali Khan recently made his Telugu debut with ‘Devara,’ which received mixed reviews.