The Chetak Screen Awards 2026, held on April 5 in Mumbai, celebrated emerging talent in Indian cinema. Shazia Iqbal received the Breakthrough Debut Director Award for her film Dhadak 2, triumphing over nominees like Dibakar Das Roy and Karan Singh Tyagi. The awards are organized by The Indian Express Group and are regarded as one of India's most credible film honors, with decisions made by the Screen Academy, a collective of 53 filmmakers and cultural practitioners. The evaluation process involved a structured voting system to ensure transparency and merit. Although Shazia was unable to attend the ceremony due to travel for a screening, the event featured notable hosts including Bollywood star Alia Bhatt and comedians Zakir Khan and Sunil Grover.