Indian President Droupadi Murmu used the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony to urge popular actors not to endorse products harmful to public health, declaring that "a true star spreads light, not darkness." The event, held at Ekta Nagar (Kevadia) in Gujarat — the site of the world's tallest statue, the Statue of Unity — brought together leading figures from Indian cinema, with honours going to veteran Kannada actor Anant Nag, who received the lifetime achievement Dadasaheb Phalke Award, and acting prizes for Mammootty, Yami Gautam, and Kartik Aaryan. Murmu also called for greater representation of women on film award juries and pressed the industry to guarantee both respect and social security for behind-the-scenes workers and emerging artists who power the creative economy.