Following the announcement of Shah Rukh Khan's National Award win for Best Actor for his performance in the 2023 film Jawan, a wave of reactions, both celebratory and critical, spread across social media. Amidst the mixed response, popular YouTuber and content creator Ashish Chanchlani has stepped forward to defend the film and Shah Rukh Khan's performance, denouncing what he perceives as "forced hatred" towards the movie.

Chanchlani took to X (formerly Twitter) on Monday to share his thoughts, stating, "Will never understand this forced 'hatred' for #Jawan. It's my most fav SRK film after Chak De. It was entertaining and was also beautifully shot". This declaration quickly garnered attention, sparking further debate among netizens.

While many agreed with Chanchlani's sentiment, others expressed confusion and disagreement, arguing that Jawan was not Shah Rukh Khan's best work and that other films deserved the recognition more. Some users pointed out that their criticism wasn't rooted in hatred for the film itself, but rather in their surprise at Jawan being the specific film chosen for the award. One user wrote, "It's very easy to understand that no one is hating Jawan, but they are perplexed by the selection of SRK as getting the best actor for this. There were numerous movies where the acting level was 100x better than this. Indeed, it was a great mass masala entertainer film". Another echoed this sentiment, suggesting that Shah Rukh Khan should have received the award for movies like Swades, Chak De India, or My Name is Khan.

Released in 2023, Jawan is an action thriller that features Shah Rukh Khan in dual roles, alongside Nayanthara, Deepika Padukone, and Vijay Sethupathi. The film was a significant commercial success, breaking several box office records and receiving praise for its action sequences, emotional depth, and strong performances.

Shah Rukh Khan shared the National Award for Best Actor with Vikrant Massey, who won for his performance in 12th Fail. Following the announcement, Shah Rukh Khan posted a heartfelt thank you message on social media, expressing gratitude to his family, colleagues, and fans. In a video shared on X, he was seen with his arm in a sling, explaining that he was "a bit indisposed" due to an injury sustained while filming his upcoming movie King. Despite the injury, he expressed his gratitude and humility, stating, "To be honoured with a National Award is a moment I will cherish for a lifetime".

The debate surrounding Shah Rukh Khan's National Award for Jawan also extended to other figures in the film industry. Actress Urvashi, who won the National Award for Best Supporting Actor for Ullozhukku, questioned the criteria used by the jury in honoring Shah Rukh Khan.

Despite the criticism, many fans and industry colleagues have congratulated Shah Rukh Khan on his win, recognizing his contributions to Indian cinema over his long career. Kamal Haasan called SRK's National Award a "recognition long overdue". Shah Rukh Khan also thanked Juhi Chawla, Mohanlal, Allu Arjun & Atlee after National Award Win.