The Afterglow: Inside the 7th Iconic Gold Awards 2026

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], February 24: Almost a week has passed since the flashbulbs subsided at Mumbai's Taj Lands End, but the 7thIconic Gold Awards is still the talk of the town. The joy has not subsided yet. In a season often cluttered with commercial noise, this year's ceremony felt different, a definitive statement on the “new guard” of Indian entertainment culture where cinematic depth and digital mastery finally share the same throne. The ceremony was concluded on a high note.

The Couture & The Crowd

The red carpet was a star-studded affair, with appearances from Hina Khan, Nimrat Kaur, Rakul Preet Singh, and Ishaan Khatter.

From Manoj Bajpayee and Boman Irani to the digital creators like Avneet Kaur and Munawar Faruqui, the guest list was studded with talents from various segments of the glamour industry.

The Night's Big Winners

The jury had  Amit Rai (OMG 2) and Raaj Shaandilyaa (Dream Girl 2), and other popular faces.

Anupam Kher'sTanvi The Great was the evening's undoubted cinematic choice. Centered on a powerful narrative involving autism and the Indian Army, the film secured Best Film, while newcomer Shubhangi Dutt received a standing ovation as she accepted the Best Actress (Jury) award for her transformative performance.

OTT: The Panchayat Sweep

If there were any doubts about the power of rural storytelling, TVF's Panchayat Season 4 silenced them. In a historic sweep, the series took home six major trophies, including:

• Best Comedy Web Series

• Best Actor (Comedy): Jitendra Kumar

• Best Actress (Comedy): Neena Gupta

• Best Supporting Duo: Faisal Malik & Sunita Rajwar

• Best Director (Comedy): Deepak Kumar Mishra & Akshat Vijaywargiya

DVA Records, too, made a great impact in this grand ceremony.

The Verdict

Looking back, the 2026 Iconic Gold Awards weren't just about the trophies; it was about the shift in the tide. With the support of Seema Singh's MeghaShrey and a panel that prioritized narrative appeal over the viral metrics, the Iconic Gold stage has officially become the place where India's most meaningful stories come to be gilded. The event set bars for the event culture of Indian glamour.

Complete List of Achievers:

Special Jury Award For Outstanding PerformanceAdarsh Gourav  – Superboys Of Malegaon

Best Actor (Popular)Farhan Akhtar – 120 Bahadur

Emerging Face Of The YearShanaya Kapoor – Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan

Producer With A Purpose – Zero Waste FilmmakingPragya Kapoor

Fresh Face Of The YearZoya Afroz

Best Director (Critics' Choice)Suparn Verma – Haq

Best Film (Popular)Haq

Game Changer Producer Of The YearJyoti Deshpande – Dhurandhar

Best DirectorAditya Dhar – Dhurandhar

Best Debut (Popular)Sara Arjun – Dhurandhar

Best FilmDhurandhar

Best Debut DirectorKaran Singh Tyagi – Kesari Chapter 2

Best Actor (Critic's Choice)Siddhant Chaturvedi – Dhadak 2

Best Actress (Critics' Choice)Fatima Sana Shaikh – Gustakh Ishq

Best ActressRakul Preet Singh – De De Pyaar De 2

Best Actress (Pan India Movie)Rukmini Vasanth – Kantara: A Legend Chapter-1

Best Actor (Jury's Choice)Ishaan Khatter – Homebound

Powerpack Performance MaleVishal Jethwa – Home Bound

Breakthrough Performance Of The YearSimrat Kaur – The Bengal Files

Best MusicTanishk Bagchi – Saiyaara

Versatile Actor (Popular)Vivek Oberoi

Best Supporting ActorVineet Kumar Singh – Chhaava

Best Supporting ActressKubbra Sait – Son Of Sardaar 2

Best Supporting Actor (Comedy)Maniesh Paul – Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari

Best Debut ActorVeer Pahariya – Sky Force

Best Debut ActressShreya Sharma – Mastiii 4

Best ChoreographerVijay Ganguly – Saiyaara And Dhurandhar

Voice Of The YearShahzad Ali – Ishq Jalakar – Karvaan (Dhurandhar)

Best SingerSonu Nigam – Pardesiya Song Param Sundari

Outstanding Contributions In Indian Sports BadmintonSaina Nehwal

Promising Performer FemaleAvneet Kaur – Love In Vietnam

Trailblazer Of New Age CinemaRadhika Madan

Best Debut Actress (Critics' Choice)Shubhangi Dutt – Tanvi The Great

Impactful Performance MaleMohit Malik – Azaad

Best Casting DirectorMukesh Chhabra – Dhurandhar & Tere Ishk Mein

Powerpack Performance FemalePatralekha – Phule

Best Debut ProducerManish Malhotra – Gustaakh Ishq

Best Film (Jury's Choice)Tanvi The Great

Best Film (Critics' Choice)Superboys Of Malegaon

Best Gujarati MovieLaalo – Shree Krishna Sada Sahaayate

Social Media Sensation Of The YearAditi Bhatia

Fitness Diva Of BollywoodAlaya F

Best LyricistIrshad Kamil – Saiyaara & Tere Ishk Mein (Title Track).

Best Playback SingerSonu Nigam – Pardesiya – Param Sundari

Best Director (Popular)Mohit Suri – Saiyaara

Best FilmDhurandhar

Best Movie OTTHarman Baweja – Mrs.

Best Director (Critics' Choice) – OTTArati Kadav – Mrs.

Best Actor – OTTNawazuddin Siddiqui – Raat Akeli Hai 2

Best Film (Popular) – OTTRaat Akeli Hai 2

Best Actress – OTTChitrangada Singh – Raat Akeli Hai 2

Best Supporting Actor – OTTSanjay Kapoor – Raat Akeli Hai 2

Best Actress (Critics' Choice) – OTTNushrratt Bharuccha – Chhori 2

Best Director – OTTBoman Irani – The Mehta Boys

Best Actor (Critic's Choice) – OTTAvinash Tiwary – For The Mehta Boys

Best Television ActressRupali Ganguly – Anupama

Best Television ActorSharad Kelkar – Tumm Se Tumm Tak

Best Actor – Web SeriesManoj Bajpayee – The Family Man Season3

Best Actress – Web SeriesShefali Shah – Delhi Crime Season 3

Best Web SeriesRaj & Dk – The Family Man Season 3

Best Web Series (Comedy)Panchayat Season 4

Best Actor (Critic's Choice) – Web SeriesAmol Parashar – Gram Chikitsalay

Best Director (Critic's Choice) – Web SeriesFaruk Kabir – Salakaar

Best Director (Popular) – Web SeriesDeepak Kumar Mishra – Panchayat Season 4

Best Supporting Actor (Comedy) – Web SeriesFaisal Malik – Panchayat Season 4

Best Supporting Actress (Comedy) – Web SeriesSunita Rajwar – Panchayat Season 4

Pioneer Of Digital Content In IndiaArunabh Kumar

Best Actress (Negative) – Web SeriesHuma Qureshi – Delhi Crime Season 3

Best Actress (Negative) (Critics' Choice) – Web SeriesKriti Kharbanda – Rana Naidu Season 2

Best Actress (Negative) (Popular) – Web SeriesNimrat Kaur – The Family Man Season 3

Best Supporting Actress – Web SeriesRasika Dugal – Delhi Crime Season 3

Versatile ActorAmit Sial – The Hunt – The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case

Breakout Performance Of The Year – Web SeriesKaran Tacker – Bhay: The Gaurav Tiwari Mystery

Most Impactful Performance – Web SeriesHina Khan – Griha Laxmi

Most Promising Actor – Web SeriesNaveen Kasturia – Salakaar

Rising Star – OTTAkanksha Ranjan Kapoor – Gram Chikitsalay

Best Debut Actor – Web SeriesMunawar Faruqui – First Copy

Best Debut Director – Web SeriesAryan Khan – The Ba***Ds Of Bollywood

Best WriterBilal Siddiqi – The Ba***Ds Of Bollywood

Best WriterAryan Khan – The Ba***Ds Of Bollywood

Best WriterManav Chauhan – The Ba***Ds Of Bollywood

Outstanding PerformerMona Singh – The Ba***Ds Of Bollywood

Best Comeback In OTTRajat Bedi – The Ba***Ds Of Bollywood

Best Web Series (Popular)The Ba***Ds Of Bollywood

Most Promising Actress – Web SeriesAnya Singh – The Bads*** Of Bollywood.

Rising Star PopularSahher Bambba – The Bads*** Of Birthday

Rising Star Female (Critics' Choice)Sadia Khateeb – For The Diplomat