The Chetak Screen Awards 2026 were graced by many notable performances and speeches, but the one that stood out the most was the stand-up comedian Zakir Khan's act, which managed to shine light on some aspects of Bollywood that people seldom talk about.
Appearing at the award ceremony, the stand-up comedian Zakir Khan took aim at Bollywood’s excessive focus on box office figures, success parties, and pay disparities among artists, earning numerous cheers from the audience members.
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The ceremony, which was hosted by Alia Bhatt, Farah Khan, Sunil Grover, Zakir Khan, and Saurabh Dwivedi, was attended by many celebrities, including actors, directors, producers, and musicians, bringing back memories of the Chetak Screen Awards ceremony that occurred seven years ago.
A roast that hit close to home
Zakir began by poking fun at the awards themselves, referencing the dominance of Dhurandhar, which went on to sweep multiple trophies.
Recalling a conversation with technicians, he joked that many felt sidelined, saying they were invited despite knowing where the awards would go. The punchline that some crew members may not get paid but at least get recognition, drew both laughter and uneasy nods.
‘Success parties’ and OTT numbers under the scanner
Discussing the concept of success according to Bollywood, Zakir highlighted issues with the culture of celebrating movies irrespective of their actual box office success.
He noted that in Mumbai, there is no link between success celebrations and popularity among the masses since movie makers determine whether a movie is a success. He further commented on OTT platforms, highlighting the joke regarding successful shows on the basis of numbers and ignoring the fact that they were unable to impress the audience.
‘Dhurandhar se sabki jali hai’
Zakir also took aim at the industry's reaction towards the success of Dhurandhar and implied that despite all praise, there was envy hidden behind the celebration. It is worth noting that his comment regarding envy was greeted with some of the strongest laughter heard during his speech.
Spotlight on pay disparity
In one of the more pointed moments of his set, Zakir highlighted the gap between star privileges and crew struggles.
He contrasted actors demanding multiple vanity vans with daily wage workers waiting for basic payments, calling it a stark contradiction within the industry. The comment struck a chord, underscoring an issue often discussed but rarely addressed publicly on such platforms.
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While Dhurandhar dominated the awards with 14 wins, including Best Actor for Ranveer Singh and Best Director for Aditya Dhar, Zakir Khan’s set ensured the evening wasn’t just about celebration.
By blending humour with critique, he turned the spotlight inward, prompting both laughter and reflection across the industry.
