Did You Know Shah Rukh Khan’s National Award Winning Film ‘Jawan’ Was First Titled Sanki?

September 7 marks the second anniversary of the release of Jawan, the film that created a storm at the box office in 2023. The celebration is even bigger this year, as Shah Rukh Khan recently won his first-ever National Film Award for Best Actor for his outstanding performance in the movie. The award, announced at the 71st National Film Awards in August 2025, marked a historic moment in the superstar’s long career.

As fans celebrate two years of this blockbuster, here is an interesting piece of trivia about the film that many might not know.

The Original Title Was Not Jawan

Before Jawan became a household name, the film had a completely different working title. According to reports, director Atlee‘s film was initially titled Sanki.

The title was later changed to Jawan because the team felt it better captured the patriotic spirit and core theme of the movie. The word Jawan means “soldier” or “youth” in Hindi, which perfectly suited the story of a man leading a group to fight against corruption and protect the country. The final title also had a wider appeal to audiences across India.

Shah Rukh Khan On His Historic National Award Win

The legacy of Jawan was cemented when Shah Rukh Khan won the Best Actor award for playing the dual role of Azad and Vikram Rathore. After the win, SRK shared a message on social media expressing his gratitude.

He wrote, “Thank you for honouring me with the National Award. Thanks to the jury, the I&B ministry… Iss samman ke liye Bharat Sarkar ka dhanyawaad (Thank you Indian govt for the honour). Overwhelmed with the love showered upon me. Half a hug to everyone today.” Following Jawan, Shah Rukh Khan will next be seen in director Siddharth Anand’s film King, which reportedly co-stars his daughter Suhana Khan.