Big Stories, Bigger Performances: The Digital Revolution of the Chetak Screen Awards

The curtain has been raised on the nominations for the Chetak Screen Awards 2026, and the message is clear: the boundary between the silver screen and the smartphone screen has finally vanished.

While theatrical giants like Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar lead the overall race with 24 nominations, the real heart of the conversation belongs to the OTT categories. Under the theme "Big Stories, Bigger Performances," the Screen Academy is honoring films that chose depth over the box office.

Why OTT is Dominating This Year:
Masterful Storytelling: Nominees for Best OTT Film—including Mrs., Stolen, and The Mehta Boys—are being praised for tackling complex social issues and experimental genres that traditional theaters often find "too risky."

Powerhouse Performances: The acting race is tighter than ever. Veteran Manoj Bajpayee (Inspector Zende) and Nawazuddin Siddiqui (Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders) are facing off against breakout stars like Abhishek Banerjee (Stolen) and Sanya Malhotra (Mrs.).

A Fair Playing Field: For the first time, the Academy (governed by over 50 industry experts) used a rigorous "trimmed mean" scoring system to ensure that smaller, digital-first films are judged purely on merit alongside high-budget blockbusters.