MUMBAI — The Film Critics Guild officially announced the nominees for the 8th Critics’ Choice Awards on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. Vikramaditya Motwane’s gritty crime thriller Black Warrant emerged as the overall front-runner with seven nominations, while Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound dominated the feature film categories with six nods.
The awards, held in association with WPP Motion Entertainment, reflect the consensus of 56 leading film critics from across India, spanning feature films, web series, short films, and documentaries.
1. Feature Film Category: A Battle of Auteurs
Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound is the heavy favorite in the film segment, followed closely by the Sundance-winning Sabar Bonda.
- Best Film Contenders: The list is diverse, featuring the Manipuri sensation Boong, the rural drama Sthal, and the family saga The Great Shamsuddin Family.
- Acting Powerhouses: The Best Actor race sees Vishal Jethwa (Homebound) up against veterans like Mammootty (Kalamkaval). In the Best Actress category, Yami Gautam (Haq) and the legendary Sharmila Tagore (Puratawn) are the top contenders.
2. Web Series: The Return of Giants
The streaming space continues to showcase high-budget excellence and experimental storytelling.
- The Big Nominees: Black Warrant leads with seven nominations, but faces stiff competition from Jaideep Ahlawat’s return in Paatal Lok Season 2 and Aryan Khan’s directorial debut The Bads of Bollywood***.
- Top Performance: The “Best Actor” category is a star-studded affair featuring Manoj Bajpayee (The Family Man S3), Jaideep Ahlawat, and newcomer Zahan Kapoor.
3. Special Recognition & Broadcast
The Guild announced that the Extraordinary Contribution to Cinema Award will be conferred upon Farida Jalal for her iconic decades-long career.
- Where to Watch: The awards ceremony will be broadcast exclusively on Sony LIV.
Critics’ Choice Awards 2026: Key Nominations at a Glance
| Category | Nominees |
| Best Film | Homebound, Boong, Sabar Bonda, Jugnuma, Sthal, Ponman |
| Best Actor (Film) | Vishal Jethwa, Mammootty, Basil Joseph, Abhishek Banerjee |
| Best Actress (Film) | Yami Gautam, Priyanka Bose, Amruta Subhash, Sharmila Tagore |
| Best Web Series | Black Warrant, Paatal Lok S2, The Ba***ds of Bollywood |
| Best Actor (Series) | Manoj Bajpayee, Jaideep Ahlawat, Zahan Kapoor, Amit Sial |
| Best Actress (Series) | Shabana Azmi, Surveen Chawla, Monika Panwar, Priyamani |