California [US], February 8: Despite receiving significant attention in India, the Indian spin-off of Citadel, titled Citadel: Honey Bunny, starring Varun Dhawan and Samantha Ruth Prabhu, lost the Best Foreign Language Series award to South Korea’s Squid Game at the 30th Critics Choice Awards.
Other nominees in the Best Foreign Language Series category included Acapulco (Apple TV+), La Maquina (Hulu), The Law According to Lidia Poet (Netflix), My Brilliant Friend (HBO Max), Pachinko (Apple TV+), and Senna (Netflix).
While Citadel: Honey Bunny did not win in this prestigious category, it had a notable win earlier this year, securing the Best Series (Critics) and Best Screenplay awards at the Filmfare OTT Awards 2024. The action-packed espionage thriller garnered a lot of attention in India for its thrilling narrative, gripping action, and strong performances.
The show is a part of the global Citadel franchise, which includes the original American series starring Priyanka Chopra. Citadel: Honey Bunny is an action-driven spy thriller where Varun Dhawan and Samantha Ruth Prabhu navigate a dangerous world of espionage, betrayal, and global conspiracies, with breathtaking action sequences and emotional drama. The chemistry between the lead actors was especially praised by critics and fans alike.
In another setback for India at the Critics Choice Awards, All We Imagine As Light, directed by Payal Kapadia, also lost the Best Foreign Film category to Emilia Perez, a Spanish-language French musical crime drama. Despite this, All We Imagine As Light made history by becoming the first Indian film to win the prestigious Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival in 2024. The film’s poignant storytelling and powerful performances from Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, and Chhaya Kadam made a significant impact in international cinema.
Although these losses were disappointing, both Citadel: Honey Bunny and All We Imagine As Light have garnered praise and recognition, marking important milestones for Indian entertainment on the global stage.