Sabki Jali Toh Hai": Zakir Khan Trolls Bollywood Over Dhurandhar Success
Zakir Khan Hosts Chetak Screen Awards 2026, Digs at Bollywood Envy -"Sabki Jali Toh Hai": Zakir Khan Trolls Bollywood as 'Dhurandhar' Sweeps Chetak Screen Awards 2026
Zakir Khan Dhurandhar Comments at Chetak Screen Awards 2026 Highlights:
While the industry heavyweights watched from the front rows, Zakir didn't hold back, addressing the elephant in the room: the sheer dominance of a film that has rewritten every box office rulebook in the past year.
“Aag Lagey Juhu Se Bandra Mein”
Zakir, known for his signature wit and relatable storytelling, paused his hosting duties alongside Alia Bhatt and Sunil Grover to comment on the Dhurandhar phenomenon. Referring to the film's gritty setting and its massive impact on the industry, he quipped:
"Sach to ye hai dosto, Dhurandhar se sabki jali to hai. Bomb phootte Lyari mein, lekin aag lagey Juhu se Bandra mein." > (The truth is, friends, everyone is burning with envy over Dhurandhar. The bombs go off in Lyari, but the fire is felt from Juhu to Bandra.)
The comment, which quickly went viral on social media, was a nod to the film’s plot (centered around the Lyari district) and the supposed discomfort within mainstream Bollywood as an espionage thriller dethrones traditional big-budget blockbusters.
A Night of Dominance
Zakir’s "trolling" was backed by cold, hard numbers. Dhurandhar (and its sequel Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge) was the undisputed star of the night, taking home a staggering 14 awards.
Not Just Popularity, But Credibility
While Zakir’s jokes targeted the "envy" of the industry, the awards themselves pointed toward a shift in how Bollywood is judged. The Chetak Screen Awards 2026 were peer-voted by an academy of 50+ filmmakers, including the likes of Karan Johar, Zoya Akhtar, and Rajkumar Hirani.
Despite the technical sweep by Dhurandhar, the Best Film award went to the critically acclaimed Homebound, proving that while the "fire" might be burning in Juhu and Bandra, the industry is still finding a balance between massive commercial juggernauts and meaningful storytelling.
As the curtains closed on the 2026 edition, one thing was clear: whether it’s at the box office or on the awards stage, it is currently the era of the Dhurandhar-and as Zakir Khan put it, the rest of the industry might just have to get used to the heat.
“Aag Lagey Juhu Se Bandra Mein”
Zakir, known for his signature wit and relatable storytelling, paused his hosting duties alongside Alia Bhatt and Sunil Grover to comment on the Dhurandhar phenomenon. Referring to the film's gritty setting and its massive impact on the industry, he quipped:
"Sach to ye hai dosto, Dhurandhar se sabki jali to hai. Bomb phootte Lyari mein, lekin aag lagey Juhu se Bandra mein." > (The truth is, friends, everyone is burning with envy over Dhurandhar. The bombs go off in Lyari, but the fire is felt from Juhu to Bandra.)
The comment, which quickly went viral on social media, was a nod to the film’s plot (centered around the Lyari district) and the supposed discomfort within mainstream Bollywood as an espionage thriller dethrones traditional big-budget blockbusters.
A Night of Dominance
Zakir’s "trolling" was backed by cold, hard numbers. Dhurandhar (and its sequel Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge) was the undisputed star of the night, taking home a staggering 14 awards.
Key wins for the film included:
The timing of Zakir’s comments couldn't have been more perfect. Just hours before the ceremony, trade reports confirmed that Dhurandhar 2 had officially crossed the ₹1,000 crore mark in domestic net collections-becoming the first Bollywood film to reach this milestone.
Ranveer Singh, who has been keeping a low profile during the film's record-breaking run, was seen smiling as Zakir poked fun at the industry's reaction. Earlier in the week, paparazzi had dubbed him the "Box Office Ka Babbar Sher"-a sentiment the Screen Academy clearly shared.
- Best Actor (Male): Ranveer Singh (presented by Nita Ambani)
- Best Director: Aditya Dhar
- Best Supporting Actor (Male): Akshaye Khanna
- Technical Sweep: Best Action, Cinematography, Background Score, Editing, and Sound Design.
The timing of Zakir’s comments couldn't have been more perfect. Just hours before the ceremony, trade reports confirmed that Dhurandhar 2 had officially crossed the ₹1,000 crore mark in domestic net collections-becoming the first Bollywood film to reach this milestone.
Ranveer Singh, who has been keeping a low profile during the film's record-breaking run, was seen smiling as Zakir poked fun at the industry's reaction. Earlier in the week, paparazzi had dubbed him the "Box Office Ka Babbar Sher"-a sentiment the Screen Academy clearly shared.
Not Just Popularity, But Credibility
While Zakir’s jokes targeted the "envy" of the industry, the awards themselves pointed toward a shift in how Bollywood is judged. The Chetak Screen Awards 2026 were peer-voted by an academy of 50+ filmmakers, including the likes of Karan Johar, Zoya Akhtar, and Rajkumar Hirani.
Despite the technical sweep by Dhurandhar, the Best Film award went to the critically acclaimed Homebound, proving that while the "fire" might be burning in Juhu and Bandra, the industry is still finding a balance between massive commercial juggernauts and meaningful storytelling.
As the curtains closed on the 2026 edition, one thing was clear: whether it’s at the box office or on the awards stage, it is currently the era of the Dhurandhar-and as Zakir Khan put it, the rest of the industry might just have to get used to the heat.
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